ABSTRACT
African-American women represent the fastest growing segment of the population of individuals who are infected with HIV in the United States. This increased rate of infection can largely be attributed to risk behaviors related to substance use and heterosexual contact with male partners who are injection drug users. The literature documents that substance abuse has a strong link to HIV/AIDS in the United States (CDC, 2004; Jones, 2004; McNair & Prather, 2004). The ongoing use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs often reduces one's decision-making abilities and increases sexual risk-taking that can ultimately lead to an HIV/AIDS diagnosis (Avins et al., 1997; Jermott & Brown, 2003). In 2001, 42,983 new eases of AIDS was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-fifth (17.4%) of which were among injection drug users (IDUs; CDC, 2001a). Divided by gender, 31,901 new AIDS cases were reported for men, and IDU's accounted for approximately 20% of these new cases. Of the total number of new cases reported for women IDU's accounted for 11,082 (20%).
