Reducing Stigma to Lower HIV Risk in People Who Inject Drugs
Tests a stigma-reduction program for people who inject drugs and methadone clinic staff.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Lower Intersecting HIV-related Stigmas to Facilitate Treatment as Prevention (LIFT)
Key facts
- Where
- Bishkek, KyrgyzstanSee the site
Where in Kyrgyzstan
- Public Foundation Den Sooluk NuruBishkek, KyrgyzstanNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of California, San Diego
- Trial code
- NCT07541131
- Record updated
- 21 April 2026
- Original description
The purpose of this study is to reduce HIV transmission risk among people who inject drugs (PWID) through a multilevel intervention known as LIFT. LIFT intervenes to build intragroup PWID support at the community-level to reduce overall drug use and stigma. LIFT also increases efficacy in navigating HIV services in the presence of structural stigma. Additionally, LIFT intervenes on abstinence-based drug use stigma at the health facility-level to improve clinic policy and staff interactions with clients.Read full original descriptionShow less
Reducing HIV-related Intersectional Stigma and Risk Among People Who Inject Drugs in a High-risk International Setting
The purpose of this study is to reduce HIV transmission risk among people who inject drugs (PWID) through a multilevel intervention known as LIFT. LIFT intervenes to build intragroup PWID support at the community-level to reduce overall drug use and stigma. LIFT also increases efficacy in navigating HIV services in the presence of structural stigma. Additionally, LIFT intervenes on abstinence-based drug use stigma at the health facility-level to improve clinic policy and staff interactions with clients.
This is an implementation study to adapt and pilot a stigma reduction intervention with persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Kyrgyzstan. The intervention includes peer-led group sessions focused on stigma reduction and providing support to increase HIV prevention efficacy. The aim will be to adapt, refine, and pilot the intervention among PWID and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic staff. Participants will be randomized to the intervention or control arms.
Inclusion: Eligible PWID will meet the following inclusion criteria:; reports injecting drugs or using drugs with someone who was injecting in the past 12 months before enrollment,; is currently using illicit drugs (salts, synthetics, pharmaceuticals or opioids) including poly drug use,; ≥ 18 years old,; live in one of the two eligible districts; report no intentions to move from Bishkek in the next 18 months,; baseline rapid HIV test confirming HIV-negative status, and; agree to participate in all intervention and assessment activities; Eligible MMT Staff participants inclusion criteria:; All clinical, administrative, and support staff at our two clinical MMT sites and implementation sites are eligible to participate. Inclusion criteria are:; ≥ 18 years old,; work in one of the eligible clinics, and; agree to participate in all intervention and assessment activities.
Exclusion: PWID Exclusion criteria are:; initiated injection drug use in the past 6 months,; report not currently using illicit drugs,; are < 18 years old,; live outside the two eligible districts,; intend to move outside Bishkek in the next 18 months,; do not agree to participate in all community-level intervention activities (i.e., five peer-led group sessions, four survey assessments over 18 months), or are confirmed to be living with HIV by self-report or baseline rapid test; Note, to protect against unintended HIV status disclosure, PWID who are living with HIV (PWID-HIV) and who meet all other inclusion criteria will be given the option to participate in all study activities. However, PWID-HIV will not be included in our analytic sample of 68 PWID. Study staff will screen all potentially eligible PWID to confirm eligibility, schedule the baseline assessment, and confirmatory rapid HIV test before randomization, with an interviewer not affiliated with LIFT intervention activities.