Approaches to HIV/AIDS Education in Drug Treatment is an easy-to-follow manual designed to assist counselors in leading educational groups on HIV/AIDS. The manual offers a 4-session core curriculum that addresses HIV transmission, safer sex and injection practices, HIV testing, and personal risk reduction. Stand-alone teaching outlines also are provided for additional creative exercises and activities that promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. In addition, the manual features an extensive resource section with articles, a glossary of terminology, bibliographies, and listings of available audio-visual materials.

A study in outpatient methadone treatment (using the prototype of the current manual) found that HIV/AIDS education programs are especially effective early in treatment and that clients who participated in the groups increased their knowledge about HIV risk factors, reduced risky behaviors, and showed improvements in attitudes about quitting drug use and maintaining abstinence.