Check out the current issue of URBAN ARCH News, the quarterly newsletter bringing you news on the latest URBAN ARCH and related research.

URBAN ARCH at 2025 Conferences

In this edition of the URBAN ARCH Newsletter, we highlight URBAN ARCH posters, presentations, and activities at 2025 conferences.

Updates from 2nd Generation URBAN ARCH HIV/Alcohol P01s

International URBAN ARCH Center Updates

Click on the buttons below to see what the International URBAN ARCH Center Cores and Projects have been working on.

Article Spotlight

Pain Intensity Associated With Increased Alcohol Use Among People With HIV and Unhealthy Alcohol and/or Substance Use

ARCHER researchers recently examined the association between pain and alcohol use among the Boston ARCH 4F cohort of people with HIV (PWH) who had a history of unhealthy alcohol and/or substance use. They also examined whether depression and social support were moderators of any association. Participants were interviewed at baseline and six months to gather sociodemographic data and assess their alcohol use, pain intensity and interference, social support, and depressive symptoms.

  • At baseline, participants (N=233) were predominantly male (68 percent), Black (54 percent), and unemployed (75 percent).
  • Baseline pain intensity was associated with average number of drinks consumed at six months (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.80), but not with number of heavy drinking days.
  • Baseline pain interference was not associated with average number of drinks consumed, nor with number of heavy drinking days at six months.
  • Social support and depressive measures were not significant moderators of the association between pain and drinking outcomes.

Comments: This prospective study found an association between pain intensity and alcohol use (but not heavy drinking days) at six months in this cohort of PWH. These results suggest that addressing pain in patients with HIV and alcohol use may be a factor in preventing increased alcohol consumption and the associated negative health outcomes.

Reference: Taghian NR, Palfai TP, Winter MR, et al. Pain and alcohol consumption among people living with HIV: examining the moderating roles of depression and social support. Alcohol. 2025 [Epub ahead of print].

Latest News

Congratulations to Dr. Kaku So-Armah (TALC Project Lead and Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University) who was recently the recipient of the Boston University 2025 Annual School Award for Community Service and Engagement!

 

 

 

Save the Date: 2026 URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars! The 2026 URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026. Attendees are invited to join us virtually or in-person in Boston. We hope to see you there!

Photo from the 2024 URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting in Boston.

New URBAN ARCH Publications

Events and Conferences

Upcoming abstract deadlines: 2026 End TB Conference of the Union North American Region (September 30), 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (October 1), 2026 College on Problems of Drug Dependence (December 4)

Click here for more events and conferences.

Happy Fall from URBAN ARCH!