2011
Prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of police training initiatives by US SEPs: Building an evidence base for structural interventions
Beletsky L, Grau LE, White E, Bowman S, Heimer R. Prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of police training initiatives by US SEPs: Building an evidence base for structural interventions. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2011, 119: 145-149. PMID: 21705159, PMCID: PMC3192926, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.05.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHIV InfectionsHumansInjectionsLaw EnforcementNeedle SharingNeedle-Exchange ProgramsPoliceSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSyringesUnited StatesConceptsSyringe exchange programsInjection drug usersNeedle stick injuriesCommunity-based prevention initiativesPublic health benefitsStick injuriesHIV transmissionPublic health rationaleDrug usersMost program managersMultivariate analysisSyringe possessionPrevention initiativesEvidence baseHealth benefitsCommunity healthOccupational healthHealth rationaleMultivariate modelingPrevalenceStructural interventionsSEP operationsPredictorsHealthPrevious year
2010
Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia
Abdala N, White E, Toussova OV, Krasnoselskikh TV, Verevochkin S, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia. BMC Public Health 2010, 10: 676. PMID: 21054855, PMCID: PMC2988741, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-676.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAlcohol DrinkingFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedRisk AssessmentRussiaSexual PartnersSubstance Abuse, IntravenousUnsafe SexYoung AdultConceptsInjection drug usersIDU sex partnersNon-IDUsRisky alcohol useSex partnersAlcohol useIDU populationSexual riskSexual transmissionUnprotected sexAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestHIV prevention programsMultiple sexual partnersPatterns of alcoholSexual risk behaviorsSubstance use patternsDisorders Identification TestRisky sexual practicesHIV infectionMethamphetamine injectionAssessed associationsBackgroundTo dateCasual partnersGeneral populationDrug usersThe roles of law, client race and program visibility in shaping police interference with the operation of US syringe exchange programs
Beletsky L, Grau LE, White E, Bowman S, Heimer R. The roles of law, client race and program visibility in shaping police interference with the operation of US syringe exchange programs. Addiction 2010, 106: 357-365. PMID: 21054615, PMCID: PMC3088513, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Relative Role of Perceived Partner Risks in Promoting Condom Use in a Three-City Sample of High-Risk, Low-Income Women
Ober AJ, Iguchi MY, Weiss RE, Gorbach PM, Heimer R, Ouellet LJ, Shoptaw S, Anglin MD, Zule WA. The Relative Role of Perceived Partner Risks in Promoting Condom Use in a Three-City Sample of High-Risk, Low-Income Women. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 1347-1358. PMID: 20976538, PMCID: PMC3180610, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9840-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSurvival of Hepatitis C Virus in Syringes: Implication for Transmission among Injection Drug Users
Paintsil E, He H, Peters C, Lindenbach BD, Heimer R. Survival of Hepatitis C Virus in Syringes: Implication for Transmission among Injection Drug Users. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2010, 202: 984-990. PMID: 20726768, PMCID: PMC2932767, DOI: 10.1086/656212.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusInjection drug usersDrug usersC virusHigh prevalenceInsulin syringesViable virusTuberculin syringesHCV infectivityResidual volumeReporter virusDay 1Prevention strategiesDay 7Microculture assayDay 63VirusLuciferase activitySyringesDegrees CPrevalenceVirus survivalSurvivalVirus decay ratesDaysDrug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability
Cepeda JA, Odinokova VA, Heimer R, Grau LE, Lyubimova A, Safiullina L, Levina OS, Niccolai LM. Drug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 1003-1010. PMID: 20872063, PMCID: PMC3112286, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9816-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic
Niccolai LM, Verevochkin SV, Toussova OV, White E, Barbour R, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Estimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic. European Journal Of Public Health 2010, 21: 613-619. PMID: 20798184, PMCID: PMC3180633, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersRetrospective cohort analysisHIV incidenceEnzyme immunoassayHIV epidemicCohort analysisDrug usersBED capture enzyme immunoassayHIV incident casesRecent HIV incidenceHigh HIV incidenceHIV prevention interventionsCross-sectional studyCapture enzyme immunoassayIncident infectionsIncident casesEstimate incidenceIndependent correlatesIncidence rateIncidence estimatesPrevention interventionsCurrent epidemic situationIncidenceVulnerable populationsLow specificityHIV Disclosure, Condom Use, and Awareness of HIV Infection Among HIV-Positive, Heterosexual Drug Injectors in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Grau LE, White E, Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. HIV Disclosure, Condom Use, and Awareness of HIV Infection Among HIV-Positive, Heterosexual Drug Injectors in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 45-57. PMID: 20700645, PMCID: PMC3023022, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9775-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrevalence and predictors of transitions to and away from syringe exchange use over time in 3 US cities with varied syringe dispensing policies
Green TC, Bluthenthal RN, Singer M, Beletsky L, Grau LE, Marshall P, Heimer R. Prevalence and predictors of transitions to and away from syringe exchange use over time in 3 US cities with varied syringe dispensing policies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 111: 74-81. PMID: 20537814, PMCID: PMC3087197, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSyringe exchange programsSEP usersSEP useThree-City cohort studyPolicy change analysisSyringe exchange usePredictors of transitionSecondary syringe exchangePolice contactCohort studyFemale sexHIV riskSyringe availabilityExchange useSyringe exchangeDrug usersDrug paraphernaliaHealth interventionsUS citiesLatino ethnicityIDUsPolicyContextual factorsMultinomial regressionTypologyEstimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Heimer R, White E. Estimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 109: 79-83. PMID: 20060238, PMCID: PMC2875272, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAlgorithmsEducationEmploymentFemaleHIV InfectionsHIV SeronegativityHIV SeropositivityHumansMalePopulationRussiaSubstance Abuse, IntravenousYoung Adult
2009
Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection
Paintsil E, Verevochkin SV, Dukhovlinova E, Niccolai L, Barbour R, White E, Toussova OV, Alexander L, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection. Addiction 2009, 104: 1881-1890. PMID: 19712125, PMCID: PMC2763027, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02687.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHepatitis C virusRespondent-driven samplingPrevalent infectionMajority of IDUsHepatitis C virus infectionSustained virological responseC virus infectionRespondent-driven sampleAssociation of genotypesIDU communityVirological responseHCV infectionAntiviral therapyC virusGenotype 3aDrug injectionVirus infectionDrug injectorsBlood samplesHCV sequencesDrug usersEndemic infectionInfectionMolecular epidemiologyPotential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female?
Toussova O, Shcherbakova I, Volkova G, Niccolai L, Heimer R, Kozlov A. Potential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female? Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 121-130. PMID: 19533368, PMCID: PMC2705483, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9364-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultFemaleHeterosexualityHIV InfectionsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedRisk AssessmentRussiaSexual BehaviorSubstance Abuse, IntravenousYoung AdultConceptsIDU sex partnersInjection drug usersSex partnersNon-IDUsGeneral populationDrug usersYoung femalesHeterosexual HIV transmissionEpidemic of HIVHIV diagnosisHIV transmissionSexual transmissionHIV preventionPotential bridgeFurther transmissionYoung womenAlcohol useConvenience sampleSignificant correlatesSignificant predictorsUrgent effortsFemalesEpidemicLast yearsLow levels
2008
High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Barbour R, Heimer R, Kozlov AP. High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS And Behavior 2008, 14: 932-941. PMID: 18843531, PMCID: PMC3116648, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9469-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHIV-positive serostatusHIV prevalenceHIV testingDrug usersHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalenceRecent doctor visitHigh HIV prevalenceUnsafe injectionsPositive serostatusDoctor visitsSerostatusHIVPrevalencePoor knowledgeVirus prevalenceLow knowledgeTesting patternsHistory/Adequate coverageCorrelatesInfectionVisitsMonthsSocial and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia
Green TC, Grau LE, Blinnikova KN, Torban M, Krupitsky E, Ilyuk R, Kozlov A, Heimer R. Social and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2008, 20: 270-276. PMID: 18774283, PMCID: PMC2696401, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2008.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug usersRisk behaviorsIntervention feasibilityOpioid overdosesModerate-risk behaviorAbstinence-based treatmentMost drug usersOpioid injectorsSuboptimal responseOverdose response trainingTreatment modalitiesCommon causeOverdose riskNaloxone distributionOverdose mortalityModifiable aspectsAmbulance staffRisk environmentOverdosesTreatment providersMortalityStructural interventionsKey informant interviewsMore ambulancesInterventionEconomic Evaluation of Delivering Hepatitis B Vaccine to Injection Drug Users
Hu Y, Grau LE, Scott G, Seal KH, Marshall PA, Singer M, Heimer R. Economic Evaluation of Delivering Hepatitis B Vaccine to Injection Drug Users. American Journal Of Preventive Medicine 2008, 35: 25-32. PMID: 18541174, PMCID: PMC2483306, DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.03.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersSyringe exchange programsHBV vaccinationDrug usersHepatitis B vaccination coverageActive injection drug usersAcute HBV infectionHepatitis B infectionHepatitis B vaccineQuality-adjusted life yearsAbsence of vaccinationLocal health departmentsDifferent vaccination strategiesVaccination program costsB infectionHBV infectionB vaccineFirst doseVaccination scheduleVaccination coverageVaccination strategiesCost-saving strategyVaccination campaignHigh riskMedical costsCommunity coverage and HIV prevention: Assessing metrics for estimating HIV incidence through syringe exchange
Heimer R. Community coverage and HIV prevention: Assessing metrics for estimating HIV incidence through syringe exchange. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2008, 19: 65-73. PMID: 18207726, PMCID: PMC2367433, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.12.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSpatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission
Heimer R, Barbour R, Shaboltas AV, Hoffman IF, Kozlov AP. Spatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission. AIDS 2008, 22: 123-130. PMID: 18090400, PMCID: PMC2778790, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3282f244ef.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHeroinHIV InfectionsHIV SeronegativityHumansIncidenceNeedle SharingPrevalenceRisk AssessmentRussiaSubstance Abuse, IntravenousUrban PopulationConceptsInjection drug usersDrug usersReceptive syringe sharingRisk behavior dataHIV/AIDS epidemicRisky injection behaviorsSeronegative cohortsSeronegative individualsHeroin injectionHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionIncident casesSyringe sharingHIV epidemicVaccine studiesStudy populationDrug useResidential addressesStudy participantsEpidemiological analysisHIVPrevalenceAIDS epidemicDisease prevalenceCohort
2007
Illicit Use of Opioids: Is OxyContin® a “Gateway Drug”?
Grau LE, Dasgupta N, Harvey A, Irwin K, Givens A, Kinzly M, Heimer R. Illicit Use of Opioids: Is OxyContin® a “Gateway Drug”? American Journal On Addictions 2007, 16: 166-173. PMID: 17612819, DOI: 10.1080/10550490701375293.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2003
MAINTAINING RESPECTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY: GENDERED LABOR PATTERNS AMONG WOMEN INJECTION DRUG USERS
Hofman N, Strenski T, Marshall P, Heimer R. MAINTAINING RESPECTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY: GENDERED LABOR PATTERNS AMONG WOMEN INJECTION DRUG USERS. Health Care For Women International 2003, 24: 794-807. PMID: 14742117, DOI: 10.1080/07399330390229966.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptation, PsychologicalAdultAgedChicagoFemaleFollow-Up StudiesGender IdentityHealth BehaviorHumansIncomeMiddle AgedNeedle SharingNursing Methodology ResearchQualitative ResearchRisk FactorsRisk Reduction BehaviorRisk-TakingSelf DisclosureSocial ResponsibilitySocial ValuesSocioeconomic FactorsSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSurveys and QuestionnairesUrban HealthWomenWork
2001
Can HIV-1-Contaminated Syringes Be Disinfected?: Implications for Transmission Among Injection Drug Users.
Abdala N, Gleghorn A, Carney J, Heimer R. Can HIV-1-Contaminated Syringes Be Disinfected?: Implications for Transmission Among Injection Drug Users. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2001, 28: 487. PMID: 11744839, DOI: 10.1097/00042560-200112150-00013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsDisinfectantsEquipment ContaminationHIV InfectionsHIV-1Sodium HypochloriteSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSyringesTime FactorsConceptsInjection drug usersHIV-1Undiluted bleachDrug usersHIV-1 recoveryViable HIV-1HIV-1 transmissionHarm reduction interventionsEffectiveness of bleachNeedle exchangeReduction interventionsMicroculture assaySingle rinseSterile syringeSyringesInjection behaviorEducational programsMinimal contact time