maintenance or outpatient drug-free treatments across the country. Participants must be men 18 years or older who are interested in discussing the issues mentioned above in the description of the study.

Your participation in this study is voluntary--you may refuse to participate or stop at any time. If you choose not to take part, your drug abuse treatment or your right to other services will not be affected. You should ask as many questions as you want to help you decide if you want to join the study.

After the study is described to you, you may decide to join. In this case:

1. You will be asked for your written consent (agreement) to participate in a screening interview.
2. You will be interviewed about your drug and alcohol use and sexual practices to determine if you are eligible for the study.
   
3. If you are eligible for the study, the study will be described to you in more detail and you will be asked to complete a second interview.
4. After the second interview you will have an equal chance of being assigned to one of two groups focusing on HIV and STD prevention and education. The study groups are in addition to the usual care you receive at your treatment program.
5. As part of the study you will attend treatment sessions either 5 times or 1 time, depending on which group you are in. The sessions may last up to 90 minutes. They will not affect your regular drug abuse treatment.
6. You will be interviewed three more times over the next 9 months. The interviews generally take approximately 2 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will I be in the study?
   From the time you enroll in the study until the final follow-up interview, you will be in the study for a total of approximately 9 months.
   
2. What are the benefits of being in the study?
   We cannot promise that you will benefit personally from being in this study. However, you may gain skills to help you reduce your likelihood of contracting STDs, including HIV. You may also help others by reducing the chance that STDs are spread to others. In addition, the investigators will learn more about the kinds of programs that are most useful for reducing risky sexual behavior. This may provide a powerful benefit to many others.
3. Are there any negative effects from taking part in the study?
   There are no known negative effects from the therapies used in this study for any participant. You may become uncomfortable while being asked personal questions, but the interviewers and therapists are trained to recognize this and to provide support.
   
4. What will I get for taking part in the study?
   You will be compensated for the time and effort it takes to participate in the study. The study staff will discuss this with you.

For More Information

For more information about this study, contact your counselor or the research assistant working with this clinic.

For more information on the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, visit the NIDA website at www.drugabuse.gov.

For information on other clinical trials, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a
website to help patients, family members, and the general public obtain information about government-sponsored clinical trials. You may log on to www.Clinicaltrials.gov to learn about ongoing or new trials for all types of health-related conditions. The descriptions for individual trials include eligibility criteria, purpose of the trial, location, and how to apply if interested. The website is maintained and updated regularly by the National Library of
Medicine.