ResearchProjects

Risk Factors for AIDS among Persons Who Inject Drugs: HIV and COVID-19
Funded by: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Project dates: 1983 - May 2025
Principal Investigator: Des Jarlais, Don
Principal Investigator: McKnight, Courtney
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted HIV prevention and care services for persons who inject drugs (PWID), threatening a resurgence of HIV. This study will examine relationships between HIV, COVID-19, prevention and care services, and racial/ethnic disparities among persons who inject drugs in New York City.

Abstract on NIH RePORTER
Related Publications
Des Jarlais DC, Weng CA, Feelemyer J, McKnight C (2023).
Non-fatal drug overdose among persons who inject drugs during first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City: Prevalence, risk factors
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 8, 100171. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100171. PMCID: PMC10247299.

McKnight C, Weng CA, Reynoso M, Kimball S, Thompson LM, Des Jarlais D (2023).
Understanding intentionality of fentanyl use and drug overdose risk: Findings from a mixed methods study of people who inject drugs in New York City
International Journal of Drug Policy, 118, 104063. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104063. PMCID: PMC10524892.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Weng CA, Feelemyer J, Tross S, Raag M, Org G, Talu A, Uuskula A (2023).
Field testing the “Avoid the Needle” intervention for persons at risk for transitioning to injecting drug use in Tallinn, Estonia and New York City, USA
AIDS and Behavior, 27 (11), 3767-3779. doi: 10.1007/s10461-023-04094-0. PMCID: PMC10227783.

Arasteh K, Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer J, McKnight C (2020).
Hepatitis C incidence and prevalence among Puerto Rican people who use drugs in New York City
Global Public Health, 15 (12), 1789-1799. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1768276. PMCID: PMC10204793.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Perlman DC, Tross S (2019).
Prescription opiate analgesics, heroin, HIV and HCV among persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2016-2018
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 204, 107459. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.030. PMCID: PMC6878143.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, Ross Z, Cooper HLF (2019).
Geographic distribution of risk (“Hotspots”) for HIV, HCV, and drug overdose among persons who use drugs in New York City: The importance of local history
Harm Reduction Journal, 16 (1), 53. doi: 10.1186/s12954-019-0326-2. PMCID: PMC6721211.

Arasteh K, Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Feelemyer J (2019).
Injection and heterosexual risk behaviors for HIV infection among non-gay identifying men who have sex with men and women
AIDS and Behavior, 23 (12), 3315-3323. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02551-3.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, McKnight C, Barnes DM, Perlman DC, Uuskula A, Cooper HLF, Tross S (2018).
Hepatitis C virus prevalence and estimated incidence among new injectors during the opioid epidemic in New York City, 2000-2017: Protective effects of non-injecting drug use
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 192, 74-79. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.034. PMCID: PMC6206865.

Des Jarlais DC, Cooper HLF, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, McKnight C, Ross Z (2018).
Potential geographic “hotspots” for drug-injection related transmission of HIV and HCV and for initiation into injecting drug use in New York City, 2011-2015, with implications for the current opioid epidemic in the US
PLoS One, 13 (3), e0194799. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194799. PMCID: PMC5875800.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Arasteh K, Tross S, Campbell ANC, Cooper HLF, Perlman DC (2018).
Heterosexual male and female disparities in HIV infection at the end of an epidemic: HIV infection among persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2001-2005 and 2011-2015
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 185, 391-397. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.12.039. PMCID: PMC6584620.

McKnight C, Shumway M, Masson CL, Pouget ER, Jordan AE, Des Jarlais DC, Sorensen JL, Perlman DC (2017).
Perceived discrimination among racial and ethnic minority drug users and the association with health care utilization
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 16 (4), 404-419. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2017.1292418. PMCID: PMC6155481.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Tross S, Perlman D, Friedman S, Campbell A (2017).
Racial/ethnic disparities at the end of an HIV epidemic: Persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2011-2015
American Journal of Public Health, 107 (7), 1153-1163. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303787. PMCID: PMC5463217.

Elliott JC, Hasin DS, Des Jarlais DC (2017).
Perceived health and alcohol use in individuals with HIV and hepatitis C who use drugs
Addictive Behaviors, 72, 21-26. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.004. PMCID: PMC5479138.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, McKnight C, Tross S, Perlman DC, Campbell AN, Hagan H, Cooper HL (2017).
Decline in herpes simplex virus type 2 among non-injecting heroin and cocaine users in New York City, 2005 to 2014: Prospects for avoiding a resurgence of human immunodeficiency virus
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 44 (2), 85-90. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000549. PMCID: PMC5233587.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Campbell AN, Tross S, Cooper HL, Hagan H, Perlman DC (2017).
What happened to the HIV epidemic among non-injecting drug users in New York City?
Addiction, 112 (2), 290-298. doi: 10.1111/add.13601. PMCID: PMC5233554.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, McKnight C, Barnes DM, Tross S, Perlman DC, Campbell ANC, Cooper HLF, Hagan H (2016).
From long-term injecting to long-term non-injecting heroin and cocaine use: The persistence of changed drug habits
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 71, 48-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2016.08.015. PMCID: PMC5117630.

Elliott JC, Hasin DS, Des Jarlais DC (2016).
Perceived risk for severe outcomes and drinking status among drug users with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Addictive Behaviors, 63, 57-62. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.023. PMCID: PMC4998042.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Hagan H, Cooper HLF, Campbell AN, Tross S, Perlman DC (2016).
Providing ART to HIV seropositive persons who use drugs: Progress in New York City, prospects for “ending the epidemic”
AIDS and Behavior, 20 (2), 353-362. doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1028-8. PMCID: PMC4559487.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Campbell AN, Tross S, Smith L, Cooper HL, Hagan H, Perlman D (2016).
Consistent estimates of very low HIV incidence among people who inject drugs: New York City, 2005-2014
American Journal of Public Health, 106 (3), 503-508. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.303019. PMCID: PMC4815962.

Elliott JC, Hasin DS, Stohl M, Des Jarlais DC (2016).
HIV, hepatitis C, and abstinence from alcohol among injection and non-injection drug users
AIDS and Behavior, 20 (3), 548-554. doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1113-z. PMCID: PMC5047517.

Des Jarlais DC (2015).
AIDS, people who use drugs, and altruism: Reflection on a personal image
Substance Use and Misuse, 50 (4), 532-533. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2015.978185.

Des jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Hagan H, Cooper H, Campbell A, Tross S, Perlman D (2015).
Will “combined prevention” eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection among persons who inject drugs in New York City?
PLoS One, 10 (5), e0126180. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126180. PMCID: PMC4428770.

Jordan AE, Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Nash D, Perlman DC (2015).
Incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among persons who inject drugs in New York City: 2006-2013
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 152, 194-200. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.03.039. PMCID: PMC4458155.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Hagan H, Cooper HL, Perlman DC (2014).
Combined HIV prevention, the New York City condom distribution program, and the evolution of safer sex behavior among persons who inject drugs in New York City
AIDS and Behavior, 18 (3), 443-451. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0664-0. PMCID: PMC3947424.

Perlman DC, Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer J (2015).
Can HIV and HCV infection be eliminated among persons who inject drugs?
Journal of Addictive Diseases, 34 (2-3), 198-205. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2015.1059111. PMCID: PMC4550554.

Perlman DC, Jordan AE, Uuskula A, Huong DT, Masson CL, Schackman BR, Des Jarlais DC (2015).
An international perspective on using opioid substitution treatment to improve hepatitis C prevention and care for people who inject drugs: Structural barriers and public health potential
International Journal of Drug Policy, 26 (11), 1056-1063. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.04.015. PMCID: PMC4581906.

Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, McKnight C, Perlman DC, Feelemyer J, Hagan H, Cooper HL (2014).
HSV-2 co-infection as a driver of HIV transmission among heterosexual non-injecting drug users in New York City
PLoS One, 9 (1), e87993. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087993. PMCID: PMC3909306.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, Perlman DC, Hagan H, Cooper HL (2014).
Transitions from injecting to non-injecting drug use: Potential protection against HCV infection
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 46 (3), 325-331. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.09.004. PMCID: PMC3947032.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, Perlman DC, Hagan H, Dauria EF, Cooper HL (2014).
A perfect storm: Crack cocaine, HSV-2, and HIV among non-injecting drug users in New York City
Substance Use and Misuse, 49 (7), 783-792. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2014.880176. PMCID: PMC4451113.

Des Jarlais DC, McKnight C, Arasteh K, Feelemyer J, Perlman D, Hagan H, Cooper HL (2014).
Use of the “NYC Condom” among people who use drugs
Journal of Urban Health, 19 (3), 547-554. doi: 10.1007/s11524-013-9838-3. PMCID: PMC4074318.