Weekending in PLWH: Alcohol use and ART adherence, a pilot study

Abstract

We examined alcohol use patterns and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among 45 people living with HIV (PLWH) in Miami, Florida. Documented provider knowledge of alcohol use was also assessed. Among our sample, 20 % reported "weekending," a phenomenon we describe as skipping ART due to planned alcohol use and drinking more on the weekend. While 100 % of our sample reported alcohol use, 73 % of providers' notes reported abstinence. Until larger studies assess the generalizability of these findings among other PLWH, providers should consider probing patients about when they drink, how much they drink, and if they take ART when drinking. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.