A study was made of the factors associated with high-risk behavior and intention to change among 126 intravenous drug users (IVDU) seen at drug treatment centers. Needle-sharing in the last month was associated with intravenous cocaine use, whereas sharing water or drug preparations was associated with variables related to the level of instruction or the reduction in the number of syringes shared in the last month. The intention to abandon high-risk behavior was not associated with the information, attitudes, or norms of the group, but was associated with the perception of personal capacity for reducing high-risk behavior. Finally, the importance and applications of these results in health counseling for IVDUs is discussed.