A5052386644- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Sex work and related issues
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Infectious Encephalopathies and Encephalitis
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Human Rights and Development
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
- Workplace Violence and Bullying
- Migration, Health and Trauma
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
University of California, San Diego
2016-2025
University of California System
2018-2025
La Jolla Alcohol Research
2023
Xochicalco University
2019-2022
University of California, Los Angeles
2022
Northeastern University
2019
Yale University
2019
Open Society Foundations
2019
Fogarty International Center
2019
British Columbia Centre on Substance Use
2019
Objective: We examined correlates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana, Mexico, a city bordering the United States, which is situated on major migration and trafficking routes. Methods: IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling. Participants underwent antibody testing for syphilis structured interviews. Weighted logistic regression identified infection. Results: Of 1056 IDUs, median age was 37 years, 86% male, 76% migrants. prevalence higher...
People who inject drugs may be at elevated SARS-CoV-2 risk due to their living conditions and/or exposures when seeking or using drugs. No study date has reported upon factors for infection among people
We studied characteristics of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID). Participants aged ≥18 years injected ≤1 month ago were recruited into a community-based cohort from October 2020 to September 2021 in San Diego, California Poisson regression identified correlates having had ≥1 vaccine dose based on semi-annual follow-up interviews through March 15, 2022. Of 360 participants, 74.7% male, mean age was 42 years; 63.1% Hispanic/Mexican/Latinx. More than one-third...
We examined the efficacy of a brief behavioral intervention to promote condom use among female sex workers in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.We randomized 924 18 years or older without known HIV infection living Juarez who had recently unprotected with clients 30-minute didactic control condition. At baseline 6 months, women underwent interviews testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia.We observed 40% decline cumulative sexually transmitted illness incidence (P = .049) group....
Objectives: To determine sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of HIV infection among male clients female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana. Methods: Four hundred men aged 18 years or older who had paid traded for with a FSW Tijuana during the past 4 months were recruited Tijuana's ‘zone tolerance,’ where prostitution is practiced openly under municipal permit system. Efforts made to balance sample between residents United States (San Diego County) Mexico (Tijuana). Participants underwent...
We evaluated brief combination interventions to simultaneously reduce sexual and injection risks among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) in Tijuana Ciudad Juarez, Mexico during 2008-2010, when harm reduction coverage was expanding rapidly Tijuana, but less so Juarez.
People who inject drugs (PWID) are vulnerable to acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We examined correlates of disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among PWID in the US-Mexico border region, whom only 7.6% had received ≥ 1 COVID-19 dose by September 2021.
In North America, overdose rates have steeply risen over the past five years, largely due to ubiquity of illicitly manufactured fentanyls in drug supply. Drug checking services (DCS) represent a promising harm reduction strategy and characterizing experiences use interest among people who inject drugs (PWID) is priority. Between February-October 2022, PWID participating cohort study San Diego, CA Tijuana, Mexico completed structured surveys including questions about DCS, socio-demographics...
Abstract Background Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) insecurity increases the risk of water-related diseases. However, limited research has been conducted on psychosocial distress as it relates to WaSH insecurity, especially among people who inject drugs (PWID). We examined relationship between related anxiety PWID living in different housing conditions along US-Mexico border region. Methods From 2020–2021, a cross-sectional study was 585 injected within last month Tijuana ( N = 202),...
BackgroundThe emergence of fentanyl around 2013 represented a new, deadly stage the opioid epidemic in USA. We aimed to develop statistical regression approach identify counties at highest risk high overdose mortality subsequent years by predicting annual county-level death rates across contiguous USA and validate our against observed data collected between 2018.MethodsWe fit mixed-effects negative binomial models predict year for 2013–18 all state (ie, excluding Alaska Hawaii). used...
Abstract Background Recent reports indicated declines in hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing during the first half of 2020 United States due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but longer-term impact on HCV and treatment is unclear. Methods We obtained monthly state-level volumes antibody, RNA genotype testing, initiation, stratified by age gender, spanning January until December from 2 large national laboratories. performed segmented regression analysis for each state a mixed-effects...
Abstract Background We assessed seroprevalence and seroincidence against orthopoxvirus (OPXV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the U.S./Mexico border region during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Between 09/21-11/23, PWID lived either San Diego (SD; N=129) or Tijuana (TJ; N=343) underwent a baseline follow-up visit involving interviewer-administered surveys venipuncture. Sera were batch tested at U.S. Center for Disease Control Prevention using an OPXV generic IgG ELISA JYNNEOS® vaccine as...
Abstract Background Few estimates exist of the prevalence sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWID) in San Diego-Tijuana border region, despite high HIV. Methods PWID living Diego or Tijuana underwent testing for bacterial STIs between December 2022 February 2024. Urogenital gonorrhea chlamydia were assessed using a urine test, Aptima® CT/GC assay. Syphilis was treponemal Health Check™ Rapid Point-of-Care assay non-treponemal...
Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a network-based method used to recruit hidden populations. Since it respondent-driven, RDS prone bias. However, these biases could facilitate recruitment of high-risk networks. We examined patterns human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive injection drug users (IDUs) and identified factors associated with being recruited by an HIV-positive IDU in RDS-based study.IDUs aged > or =18, who injected within the last month resided Tijuana, Mexico, were using...
Researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of addressing sexual and drug-related HIV risk within context intimate relationships rather than solely focusing on individual behaviors. Practical effective methods needed to recruit, screen, enroll high hard-to-reach couples who would most benefit from interventions, such as drug-using female sex workers (FSWs) their intimate, non-commercial partners. This paper outlines a bi-national, multidisciplinary effort develop implement study...
Introduction Policing practices are key drivers of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID). This paper describes the protocol for first study to prospectively examine impact a police education programme (PEP) align law enforcement and prevention. PEPs incorporating prevention (including harm reduction programmes like syringe exchange) have been successfully piloted in several countries but were limited brief pre–post assessments; on policing behaviours occupational safety is unknown....
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in developing countries such as Mexico received relatively little research attention. In Tijuana, Mexico, a border city experiencing dynamic HIV epidemic, data on MSM are over decade old. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence and examine correlates of infection among this city. We conducted cross-sectional study 191 recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS) 2012. Biological males age 18 resided Tijuana reported male past year included. Participants...
As countries embark on public health-oriented drug law reform, health impact evaluations are needed. In 2012, Mexico mandated the narcomenudeo which depenalised possession of small amounts drugs and instituted treatment instead incarceration. We investigated past future effect this reform HIV incidence in people who inject Tijuana, Mexico.
Abstract Background Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) increases overdose mortality, but its role in infectious disease transmission is unknown. We examined whether IMF use predicts HCV and HIV incidence among a cohort of people who inject drugs (PWID) San Diego, CA Tijuana, Mexico. Methods PWID were recruited into prospective two waves during 2020-2022, undergoing semi-annual interviewer-administered surveys, serology through February 2024. Cox regression was conducted to examine...
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk of developing injection-related infections, including abscesses. Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) key human rights services; yet these services have been underexplored as predictors abscesses among PWID.