HIV Prevention Among Drug Users:
A Resource Book for Community Planners & Program Managers

The federal government provides a wide range of information on HIV/AIDS that is available in both paper and electronic formats. Specific information on drug use and HIV/AIDS can be obtained through a variety of different agencies and institutes. A comprehensive literature search will involve using the resources listed below.

To streamline the process of seeking information and materials, users should always start their search by contacting either the CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) or the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). These clearinghouses are repositories of government-produced reports and educational materials. Another major source of information is the National Library of Medicine, which provides access to the wealth of academic HIV/AIDS literature through the free database, AIDSLINE. A description of each resource is provided below, including service and contact information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30305

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assesses the status and characteristics of the AIDS epidemic and the prevalence of HIV infection, and supports, through financial and technical assistance, the design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV prevention and education activities. CDC's HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives are carried out primarily through the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm). CDC's HIV/AIDS information dissemination is carried out through the CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN), described below.

CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)

The CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) is the nation's reference, referral, and distribution service for HIV/AIDS-related information. NPIN collects, organizes, and disseminates materials and information on HIV infection to people and organizations working in the field of HIV/AIDS. All of NPIN's services are designated to facilitate sharing of information and resources among NPIN users on education and prevention services, published materials, research findings, and trends.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Comprehensive reference and referral services. Reference specialists are available to assist prevention planners, program managers, and staff locate information on various aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention by calling NPIN directly (1-800-458-5231). Reference specialists can provide information through the following two search services:

• Standard Search Series: These literature searches are pre-produced by NPIN staff. They include information on a variety of current HIV/AIDS-related topics including HIV and drug use.
• Customized search: Reference specialists are available to help in planning and conducting a search strategy specific to individual needs. They can execute searches over the phone and send the results, along with the documents to requestors.

HIV/AIDS-Related Databases. NPIN provides access to a number of HIV/AIDS- related databases. These databases, which are listed below, can be accessed through NPIN ONLINE¹, a computerized information network that offers a direct link to NPIN's comprehensive information collection. Users can access the databases directly through NPIN ONLINE, or they can contact a reference specialist at NPIN (1-800-458-5231) to conduct a search.

• Educational Materials Database: consists of nearly 15,000 descriptions of prevention materials, many of which are available directly from NPIN.
• Resources and Services Database: descriptions of nearly 20,000 organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and social services.
• Funding Database: includes private and government funding opportunities for community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations.
• Comprehensive School Health Education Database: includes information on resources to help educate children and young adults about HIV/AIDS.
• AIDS Daily Summary Database: consists of abstracts of HIV/AIDS-related articles from major newspapers, wire services, medical journals, and news magazines.
• Conference Database: describes HIV/AIDS-related meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Database: includes all HIV/AIDS-related articles issued in the MMWR series.
• Periodicals Database: contains bibliographic information for HIV/AIDS-related newsletters and journals.
• Federal Information Database: includes Federal press releases and statements on HIV/AIDS.

Fax on Demand Service (NAC FAX). This is a relatively new service of NPIN that provides information directly by fax machine, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Documents, including CDC fact sheets, surveillance report tables, and information on NPIN services, are available free through this service.

Publications Distribution. Single and bulk copies of CDC educational brochures, posters, reports, and videotapes are available from NPIN upon request.

Internet Services. NPIN maintains an Internet mailing list, gopher server, Webpage, the AIDSNEWS Listserv, and an anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site through which it provides general information, accepts reference questions, and accepts orders for free publications. (http://www.cdcnac.org)

• AIDSNEWS Listserv: This listserv sends out daily, current awareness information to subscribers including: the AIDS Daily Summary, conference information, announcements of relevant CDC publications, lists of newly acquired NPIN publications, and new treatment information.

To join the AIDSNEWS Listserv send an Internet email message to the following address: listserv@cdcnac.aspensys.com with the following command in the subject line: subscribe aidsnews (your first name your last name). You will be prompted for further information.

CDC Hotline and Telephone Information Services

CDC has a variety of telephone services for the general public that can be used by prevention planners and program managers to answer specific questions about HIV/AIDS.

(800) 342-AIDS (English Hotline)
(800) 344-SIDA (Spanish Hotline)
(800) 243-7012 (Hotline for TTY/TDD users)
(404) 332-4570 (Statistics Information Line)
(404) 332-4555 (Voice Information System)
(404) 332-4565 (Fax Information Service)

CDC National AIDS Hotline. The CDC National AIDS Hotline is a toll-free HIV/AIDS-related information service that provides confidential information, referrals, and educational materials to the public. The Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (see above for phone numbers).

CDC Automated Telephone Services. The CDC HIV/AIDS Statistics Information Line provides current statistics on HIV infection and AIDS. CDC's Voice Information System provides up-to-date information on a variety of health-related topics, including HIV/AIDS. To receive free faxes on a variety of HIV/AIDS-related topics, call the CDC Fax Information Service (see above for phone numbers).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
http://www.samhsa.gov
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
(301) 443-8956 (Office of Communications)
(301) 443-0365 (Division of Public Education and Dissemination, CSAP)
(800) 354-8825 (PREMIS)

SAMHSA's mission is to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. SAMHSA administers the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services Block Grant and other grant programs that provide states and localities with support for substance abuse and mental illness treatment and prevention programs.

SAMHSA is composed of three Centers that carry out the agency's mission of providing substance abuse and mental health services:

• The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) heads efforts to speed the application of mental health treatments for patients with mental illness.
• The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) leads the federal efforts to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse in the US.
• The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) designs pro grams to improve treatment services and make them more available to those in need.

The National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
http://www.health.org
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
Phone:(800) 729-6686
(800) 487-4889 (TDD)
(800) NCADI-64 (customer support)
Fax:(301) 468-6433

SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) sponsors the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI), the one-stop resource for federal alcohol and drug information. NCADI is the world's largest resource for current information and materials concerning substance abuse prevention. It provides current print and audiovisual materials about alcohol and other drugs, including materials explaining the risk of HIV transmission from sharing needles during injection drug use and from unsafe behaviors stemming from the effects of substance abuse. NCADI's resources include scientific findings; databases on prevention programs and materials, field experts, federal grants, and market research; and information about organizations and groups concerned with alcohol and other drug problems.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Bibliographic Research. NCADI maintains six databases containing over 80,000 studies on alcohol and drugs and prevention. The public may access all NCADI databases through NCADI's Webpage, PREVLINE located at (http://www.health.org). They also can access the databases onsite in the Resource Center (which is located in Rockville, MD and is open to the public, Monday through Friday, 9:00am till 5:00pm), or they may request assistance from the information services staff over the telephone (800-NCADI-64). Customized searches in the form of annotated bibliographies from alcohol and other drug databases also are available upon request.

Publications Distribution. NCADI houses culturally diverse prevention materials, tailored for use by parents, teachers, youth, communities, and prevention professionals. It publishes a quarterly catalog that contains the references to hundreds of educational materials related to alcohol and drug abuse, organized by target audience. Many of these publications can be downloaded from NCADI's Webpage, (http://www.health.org).

Prevention Pipeline. This is a bimonthly publication by CSAP on emerging prevention science, educational materials, and program profiles. Contact NCADI for ordering information.

The National Resource Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse, and Mental Illness in Women is a collaborative effort between CSAP, CSAT, CMHS, SAMHSA's Office for Women's Services (OWS), and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The Center provides an Information and Referral line at (800) 354-8824 or (703) 836-8761 and a direct line (modem to modem) for PREMIS (the Center's specialized information database and electronic communications system (800) 354-8825.

Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness (RADAR) Network. This is an international communications network that distributes prevention information and provides a nationwide linkage of alcohol and other drug information centers located in every state. A listing of these centers and their corresponding webpages can be found at http://www.health.org.

National Library of Medicine (NLM)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Phone:(800) 272-4787
(800) 638-8480 (MEDLARS Service Desk)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the world's largest research library serving a single scientific and professional field. The Library collects materials exhaustively in all major areas of the health sciences. It produces the MEDLARS (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System) databases to offer online and Internet access to the contents of medical and public health literature.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Databases. NLM produces three databases focusing on HIV/AIDS including: AIDSLINE, AIDSTRIALS, and AIDSDRUGS. Any major search for literature on HIV/AIDS should include a database search of AIDSLINE. Online access to all three databases is free of charge.

AIDSLINE: Contains references to the published literature on HIV/AIDS with a focus on the biomedical, epidemiologic, oncologic, public health, and social and behavioral science literature. It contains citations (with abstracts if available) to journal articles, monographs, meeting abstracts and papers, and reports from 1980 to the present.

AIDSTRIALS: Contains information about HIV/AIDS related clinical trials.

AIDSDRUGS: Contains descriptive information about each drug being tested in HIV/AIDS clinical trials.

AIDSLINE and its related databases can be accessed in several ways. Public libraries and university libraries often have access to these databases. NLM software also gives users access to these databases. For more information on how to access the AIDSLINE databases, contact the MEDLARS Service Desk at (800) 638-8480 or visit Internet Grateful Med at http://igm.nlm.nih.gov. For information on local libraries that have access to these databases and other health resources, call the National Network of Libraries of Medicine at (800) 338-7657. An information specialist will provide a referral to local university and medical libraries that are willing to provide non-affiliated users with library services such as online database searching, access to journal literature, books, and audiovisuals.

The NLM Webpage. The NLM Webpage (http://www.nlm.nih.gov) provides timely health information to communities affected by the HIV infection. It provides access to the HIV/AIDS-related information available through NLM including the Guide to NIH AIDS Information Resources, the monthly AIDS bibliography, access to the abstracts from the XI International Conference on AIDS, and links to many other high quality HIV/AIDS Webpages outside NLM. It also provides a link to Internet Grateful Med and available NLM databases.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
http://www.fda.gov
5600 Fishers Lane
HFE-50
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone:(301) 443-3170 (Consumer Affairs)
(301) 443-0104 (Clinical Trials)

(800) TRIALS-A (Clinical Trials)
(800) 222-0185 (online connect)

The FDA is responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologics, vaccines, and medical devices used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV infection, AIDS, and AIDS-associated opportunistic infections. FDA works also with the blood banking industry to help ensure the safety of the nation's blood supply. The agency is a co-sponsor of the AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

The FDA Webpage. The FDA Webpage (http://www.fda.gov) provides users with a wealth of information on biologics, foods, human drugs, medical devices and radiological health, toxicology, and field operations. It contains a sophisticated search engine that enables users to search all the documents located on the FDA Webpage. Many documents can be found on the topics of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse that can then be downloaded or printed directly.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone:(800) 933-3413 (National HIV Telephone Consulting Service)
(301) 443-6364 (HIV Clinical Conference Call Series)
(301) 443-6364 (AIDS Education and Training Centers)
(800) 362-0071 (National Pediatric HIV Resource Center)
(301) 443-4588 (Clinical Issues Subcommittee)

HRSA administers education and training programs for health care providers and community service workers who care for AIDS patients. HRSA administers programs funded by the Ryan White CARE Act to demonstrate how communities can organize their health care resources to develop an integrated, comprehensive system of care for those with AIDS and HIV infection.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

National HIV Telephone Consulting Service. This toll-free service provides information on drugs, clinical trials, and the latest treatment methods to physicians and other health care professionals who have questions about providing care to people with HIV infection or AIDS. All staff members are health professionals with extensive experience in outpatient and inpatient primary care of people with HIV-related diseases. The service is available from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern time (see above for phone number).

HIV Clinical Conference Call Series. In collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), HRSA offers interactive, toll-free audio teleconferences during which primary health care providers from many disciplines have the opportunity to discuss timely clinical issues with internationally renowned clinical experts (see above for phone number).

AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCS). HRSA supports a network of 17 regional centers that serve as resources for educating health professionals in prevention, diagnosis, and care of HIV-infected patients. The centers train primary care providers to incorporate HIV prevention strategies into their clinical practices, along with helping them diagnosis, counsel, and care for HIV-infected persons and their families. To find the name and phone number for the AETC in your area contact the AIDS ETC Program (see above for phone number).

National Pediatric HIV Resource Center. The Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, HRSA, supports the National Pediatric HIV Resource Center, which offers a range of services to professionals caring for children, youth, and families affected by HIV infection. The Resource Center provides consultation, technical assistance, policy analysis, and clinical training. The center is accessible from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time and can be reached by calling 1(800) 362-0071, fax: (201) 485-2752, or by writing to the National Pediatric HIV Resource Center, 15 South Ninth Street, Newark, NJ 07107.

Clinical Issues Subcommittee. The Clinical Issues Subcommittee of the HRSA AIDS Advisory Committee was established to facilitate timely dissemination of information about new developments in clinical research, drug development, and policies on HIV/AIDS into language relevant for practicing caregivers, principally those supported by HRSA's HIV/AIDS-related programs. NIAID and the NIH Office of AIDS Research have participated in all its activities. For information, contact Pearl Katz, PhD, AIDS Program Office, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; (301) 443-4588.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
http://www.nida.nih.gov
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857

Phone:

(301) 443-6245 (Publications)
(800) 729-6686 (National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information)
(703) 487-4650 (National Technical Information Service)
(301) 443-6543 (Community Epidemiologic Work Group)
(301) 443-6046 (AIDS Work Group)

Fax:

(301) 468-6433 (NCADI)
(703) 321-8547 (NTIS)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the nation's lead agency responsible for conducting and disseminating research on drug abuse and addiction to improve prevention, treatment, and policy.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

NIDA Publications. NIDA produces many professional and scientific publications as well as public education materials on the results of its research. All NIDA publications are available either through NCADI or the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) (see phone numbers above for information on these services or to request a copy of NIDA's publications catalog). Publications include:

NIDA Notes: Published bimonthly, this newsletter reports on advances in the field of drug abuse, identifies resources, promotes exchanges of information, and seeks to improve communication among clinicians, researchers, administrators, and policymakers.

Community Alert Bulletins: Produced periodically, these bulletins address new and emerging drug abuse issues that warrant special attention (e.g., bleach disinfection for HIV prevention).

NIDA Capsules: These factsheets provide concise summaries of issue areas for the press and the public.

Research Dissemination and Application Packages: This series of educational products (including videotapes) focuses on research-based drug treatment strategies and techniques.

Research Monograph Series: These monographs report on state-of-the-art drug abuse research findings, problem areas, and technologies, including AIDS prevention and treatment.

Clinical Report Series: This series provides information from NIDA's research programs, including those focusing on AIDS prevention and treatment.

Services Research Monographs: These monographs present findings from the latest drug abuse treatment services research on a range of topics.

Research Report Series: These reports simplify the science of research findings for the educated lay public, legislators, educational groups, and practitioners.

Public Education Materials: These include multi-media materials for public education and science education campaigns related to drug abuse and addiction.

Internet Services. The NIDA Webpage (http://www.nida.nih.gov) has extensive links to other webpages focusing on substance abuse. It also has information on NIDA grants and contracts, communications and documents, events, committees, divisions, offices, and workshops.

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