Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Aids): A Survey of Substance Abuse Clinic Directors' and Counselors' Perceived Knowledge, Attitudes and Reactions

Abstract

As Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to affect intravenous drug abusers, providing AIDS-related counseling to this population is becoming increasingly critical. Substance abuse clinic directors and counselors within the Chicago area were surveyed to examine, respectively, clinic policies and practices concerning AIDS and self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and reactions associated with AIDS. Across clinics, policies and practices were found to be inconsistent and frequently incomplete, inadequate and at times, questionable. Many directors either would not admit or were uncertain if they would admit persons with AIDS (PWAs) for treatment. Most had incomplete AIDS infection control policies; a few had questionable and several had none. Clearer and nondiscriminatory federal and state AIDS guidelines need to be established and implemented at the clinic level. Counselors, similar to the general population, held apprehensions concerning AIDS. Unlike the fears of the general population, these fears did not translate into negative attitudes, prejudices, or active discrimination, but they did seem to translate into inaction and indecision. Many counselors reported not being knowledgeable nor comfortable enough to counsel PWAs. AIDS counselor education needs to deal with these AIDS-elicited emotional reactions.