The purpose of this study is to look at a program for women in drug abuse treatment designed to reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Sexually Transmitted Disease (HIV/STD) risk behaviors and reduce unprotected sexual risk behavior.

The proposed trial is intended to test the effectiveness of a proven, manual driven, five-session safer sexual skills building group (SSB) intervention (Schilling et al., 1991; El Bassel and Schilling, 1992) for female patients in MMTP or in drug-free outpatient treatment. The effects of SSB will be compared to a standard group HIV education session (HE).

This study uses a 2-group, randomized, parallel-group design to compare a five-session safer sexual skills building group to a single 60-min HIV education session (control condition). The control condition is designed to standardize and simulate the usual care at community clinics.

Adult females (18 years of age or older) in drug abuse treatment at participating Community Treatment Programs are invited to participate.