The editors of Stress, Trauma, and Substance Use have gathered a collection of innovative chapters written by cutting edge researchers that depict both the breadth of the relationships between stress, trauma, and substance use, as well as how closely these phenomena are all too often linked. Individually, the chapters in this volume present innovative conceptual models, original research findings, and recommendations to service providers that are applicable to a diverse body of individuals affected by a wide variety of stressful and/or traumatic experiences, such as HIV/AIDS, incarceration, homelessness, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma and violence in addition to substance use. Taken as a whole, the content of this text provides a window into the true nature of the multi-layered and interconnected relationship between stress, trauma, and substance use. The untangling of these relationships holds great promise for continued research that develops a better understanding of these phenomena and ultimately improves the lives of individuals touched by these experiences. This book was previously published as a special issue of Stress, Trauma, and Crisis: An International Journal.

Throughout the world, the threat of HIV/AIDS to women's health has become the focus of increased concern. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2004) reports that almost 20 million women and girls are living with HIV globally, accounting for nearly half of all people living with HIV worldwide. Infection rates among women are rising in every region worldwide including high-income countries in which heterosexual intercourse may now be the most common mode of transmission. Although there are many contributing factors to the current trends in HIV, most women who become HIV-infected do not practice "high-risk" behaviour. Women worldwide may individually view themselves as less susceptible than men, and may pay less attention about how HIV is transmitted and how to prevent infection. There are also gender inequalities, stemming from sexual double standards that constrain women's access to care, treatment, and support. This work focuses on international perspectives on women and HIV casting a deliberately wide net addressing the issue of the interaction between HIV and gender in a specific geographic area. Our intention is to provide a forum for innovative manuscripts whose contribution to the literature is found in their unique approach to this interaction and application of empirical investigation to unique problems and/or populations. This material was published in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

The editors of Stress, Trauma, and Substance Use have gathered a collection of innovative chapters written by cutting edge researchers that depict both the breadth of the relationships between stress, trauma, and substance use, as well as how closely these phenomena are all too often linked. Individually, the chapters in this volume present innovative conceptual models, original research findings, and recommendations to service providers that are applicable to a diverse body of individuals affected by a wide variety of stressful and/or traumatic experiences, such as HIV/AIDS, incarceration, homelessness, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma and violence in addition to substance use. Taken as a whole, the content of this text provides a window into the true nature of the multi-layered and interconnected relationship between stress, trauma, and substance use. The untangling of these relationships holds great promise for continued research that develops a better understanding of these phenomena and ultimately improves the lives of individuals touched by these experiences. This book was previously published as a special issue of Stress, Trauma, and Crisis: An International Journal.