Youth living with HIV and problem substance use: Elevated distress is associated with nonadherence and sexual risk

Abstract

Purpose: To examine health risk behaviors in distressed youth living with HIV (YLH) with problem substance use. Methods: Assessed distress, antiretroviral (ARV) adherence, and unprotected sex in a racially and geographically diverse sample of 122 YLH. Results: A total of 87% of distressed YLH reported significantly more past-month ARV nonadherence (odds ratio [OR] = 7.15) and were more likely to have unprotected sex under the influence (OR = 5.14) than nondistressed youth. Conclusions: Distressed YLH with problem substance use may benefit from interventions to improve adherence and to decrease sexual risk, especially while under the influence of drugs. © The Author(s) 2010.