A NIDA-funded study shows that HIV-infected women who are released from jail are more likely to abuse cocaine, have co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and to have worse HIV treatment outcomes compared to men, underscoring the need for gender-specific interventions and services.

The findings show that six months after release, these women were half as likely to still be receiving care and medications for their HIV status, were more likely to report depression, were more likely to have serious psychiatric disorders but were less likely to be receiving psychiatric care. With such negative health outcomes, there is high risk of HIV transmission to their sexual partners, and there is a public health need to develop effective gender-specific interventions.

Gender Disparities in HIV Treatment Outcomes Following Release From Jail: Results From a Multicenter Study, Jaimie P. Meyer, MD, Alexei Zelenev, PhD, Jeffrey A. Wickersham, PhD, Chyvette T. Williams, PhD, Paul A. Teixeira, DrPH, MA, and Frederick L. Altice, MD, MA, American Journal of Public Health, DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301553

For facts on drug abuse and HIV, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/hivaids.