Alexandra B. Collins

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Advances in HIV care and broader access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) have extended life expectancy for people living with HIV, yet aging-related health concerns, especially among those who use substances, remain under-researched. This systematic review examined the effects of mindfulness and yoga-based interventions on healthy aging outcomes in adults living with HIV who use drugs or who have a history of substance use. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, quasi-experimental designs, and pre–post intervention studies that assessed healthy aging indicators—broadly defined to include physical, cognitive, and mental health outcomes—along with substance use and HIV-related quality of life measures such as ART adherence. All five studies that met inclusion criteria found mindfulness and yoga interventions to be feasible and acceptable for people living with HIV who use substances, with some evidence suggesting reductions in stress and substance use, as well as improvements in ART adherence. However, most studies were small, short-term pilot trials, none focused specifically on older adults, and few used HIV-specific measures of quality of life or healthy aging. Notably, older adults living with HIV were underrepresented in the studies examined, pointing to the need for increased engagement with older adults living with HIV. These findings suggest promise for mindfulness and yoga for promoting healthy aging among people living with HIV who use substances. Future research should prioritize larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs to better understand clinical efficacy. Existing interventions may be enhanced by incorporating multilevel, community-driven approaches that reflect lived experiences and expand definitions of aging well among people living with HIV who use drugs or who have a history of substance use.

Although critical to enacting change, effectively communicating clinical and public health research results remains a challenge. In a webinar that occurred on December 7, 2023, a group of clinical and public health researchers and communications specialists convened to share their experiences using plain language materials to communicate research results. Herein, they provide practical guidance and case examples of lay summaries, infographics, data dashboards, and zines, along with challenges and potential solutions. Discussion illuminated the critical importance of partnering with communities who represent the intended beneficiaries of the research to plan, create, and disseminate materials. Accordingly, researchers should plan early, prepare, and dedicate resources for results dissemination. Researchers can use this guidance to develop plain language research dissemination materials, help connect with their audiences to inform and influence their understanding, and empower action to ultimately improve health and well-being.

Introduction: Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and people who are unstably housed are disproportionately impacted by adverse alcohol‐related health outcomes. Addressing the needs of unstably housed people with high‐intensity alcohol use (i.e., heavy episodic use or binge drinking), including those whose goal is not abstinence, is critical to reducing harms among this population. This study explores the alcohol‐related treatment and support needs among unstably housed people who use alcohol.Methods: Data collection included participant observation and semi‐structured interviews (n = 25) with unstably housed people with high‐intensity alcohol use. Data were analysed thematically, with attention to structural vulnerability and social‐structural forces at shaping perceptions of and experiences with alcohol treatment.Results: Participants underscored how housing instability was critical in precipitating and maintaining heavy alcohol use, with alcohol often used to manage the stress and anxiety related to housing instability. While participants regularly engaged with alcohol treatment programs, program design and barriers to access undermined the effectiveness of these services for participants. Participants described the need for a range of program and service options across a continuum of care to be implemented to support participants in meeting their diverse needs and identified goals regarding alcohol use.Discussion and Conclusions: Alcohol treatment and supports need to be modified so that they include a range of harm reduction and abstinence‐based models to better meet people's diverse needs. Furthermore, treatment must be paired with permanent and affordable housing to address underlying drivers of alcohol‐related harm for unstably housed people.