UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR FROM DRUG-USERS ACCOUNTS OF THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES

This article attempts to place drug users' HIV-related risk behaviors in the context of their past and current life experiences. The presented material was taken from interviews of 228 drug users on their sexual attitudes and behaviors. Many clients reported traumatic and abusive childhoods, relationship and sexual difficulties, multiple losses of significant others, and social isolation. It is proposed that sexual risk behavior may be understood and explained in the context of clients' perception of themselves and their relationships as a result of past traumatic events and current lifestyle. The implications for intervention programs that are aimed at changing clients' sexual risk behaviors are discussed in the light of this model.