Social Context of Needle Selling in Baltimore,Maryland

Although much of the debate surrounding the distribution of sterile syringes to injection drug users (IDUs) has focused on needle exchange programs (NEPs), IDUs acquire their syringes from three major sources: NEPs, pharmacies, and secondary exchangers or needle sellers. The purpose of the present study is to examine types and frequencies of social interactions among drug injectors who sell needles, most of which come from NEPs, compared with individuals who do not sell needles. Specifically, we compared engagement in drug-related behaviors, roles in the drug economy, and social network membership. Data were collected as part of the SHIELD study, an HIV prevention intervention targeted at drug users and their social networks (n = 910) from February 2001 through September 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland (USA). In this sample, 56 participants reported selling needles. Needle sellers had higher levels of engagement in drug-related social interactions, including using drugs with others, giving or receiving drugs from others, and buying drugs with other users. Participants who sold needles had a significantly higher number of roles in the drug economy. Also, they had more social network members who were injectors, with whom they talked about risky drug behaviors, gave needles to, and shared cookers and bleach with. Compared with nonselling injectors, needle sellers engage in HIV risk-related behaviors, such as injecting daily and sharing injection equipment, more frequently. The study's findings may be useful to determine whether secondary exchangers should be targeted for HIV prevention activities both to reduce their own risk and to diffuse risk reduction information throughout the drug using community.     

Distributive syringe sharing among young adult injection drug users in five U.S. cities

Blood-borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are transmitted most commonly among injection drug users (IDUs) through the sharing of needles and syringes. Distributive syringe sharing (DSS) (i.e., passing on a used needle/syringe to another IDU) poses the potential risk of transmitting HIV and viral hepatitis to others. We studied the prevalence and correlates of DSS among IDUs enrolled in a randomized behavioral intervention trial designed to reduce behaviors associated with HIV and HCV transmission in five U.S. cities. Among 3129 IDUs ages 15-30 years who completed the baseline visit, 1432 (45.8%) engaged in DSS during the 3 months prior to baseline. Significant correlates of DSS were perception that peer norms condone needle sharing, frequent injection, not obtaining most syringes from needle exchange programs or pharmacies, injecting most frequently in shooting galleries and with sex partners, low perceived risk of HIV from sharing syringes, increased anxiety, low self-esteem, and having unprotected sex. Restricting to only those IDUs who reported not injecting with previously used syringes, similar independent correlates of DSS were found. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce ongoing transmission of blood-borne infections should focus on altering peer norms among networks of young IDUs.     

Bridge to services: drug injectors' awareness and utilization of drug user treatment and social service referrals,medical care,and HIV testing provided by needle exchange programs

Using qualitative interviews conducted in 1999, we examine awareness and use of drug user treatment and social service referrals, medical care, and HIV testing provided by needle exchange programs (NEPs) among injectors who use NEPs (N=26) and injectors who get their syringes from other sources (N=20). A four-category typology of NEP service knowledge and use emerges from these interviews: "Active involvement--use of services; "Stepping stone"--no use of services but knowledge that specific services are available; "Vague awareness"--nonspecific knowledge of service availability: and "Unaware:--no awareness of the service provision function of NEPs. We describe patterns of distribution of respondents among these categories and suggest policy implications.     

The role of "long-term" and "new" injectors in a declining HIV/AIDS epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND: A substantial decline of HIV prevalence has been observed in injection drug users (IDUs) from Rio de Janeiro, in recent years. Differential characteristics and behaviors of new (injecting for <6 years) and long-term (>=6y) injectors may help to understand recent changes and to implement appropriate prevention strategies. METHODS: Between October 1999 and December 2001, 609 active/ex-IDUs were recruited from different communities, interviewed, and tested for HIV. Contingency table analysis and t-tests were used to assess differences between new and long-term injectors. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of HIV serostatus for long-term and new injectors. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 11.7% for 309 long-term injectors (95% CI 8.1-15.3) and 4.3% for 300 new injectors (95% CI 2.0-6.6). New injectors reported having engaged in treatment and having received syringes from needle exchange programs (NEPs) more frequently than long-term injectors in the last 6 months, but sharing behaviors remained frequent and even increased vis-à-vis long-term injectors. For male new injectors, "sexual intercourse with another man" was found to be the sole significant risk factor for HIV infection (Adj OR = 8.03; 95% CI 1.52-42.48). Among male long-term injectors, "to have ever injected with anyone infected with HIV" (Adj OR = 3.91; 95% CI 1.09-14.06) and to have "ever been in prison" (Adj OR = 2.56; 95% CI 1.05-6.24) were found to be significantly associated with HIV infection. DISCUSSION: New injectors are seeking help in drug treatment centers or needle exchange programs. They differ from long-term injectors in terms of their risk factors for HIV infection and have lower prevalence levels for HIV. Such differences may help to understand the recent dynamics of HIV/AIDS in this population and highlight the need to reinforce new injectors' help-seeking behavior and to reduce current unacceptably high levels of unprotected sex and syringe sharing in new injectors despite attendance of prevention/treatment programs.     

Injecting Equipment Provision in Australia: The State of Play

Injecting equipment provision measures in Australia can be judged reasonably successful as HIV prevention measures. In the capital cities of all Australian States and Territories, access to needles and syringes is easy, at least during the day in at least some areas. In conjunction with peer education and other activities, needle and syringe supply appears to have led to a change in norms away from the sharing of needles and other injecting equipment among at least older heroin injectors in large population centers. However, in many other areas, and in many subpopulations-particularly further marginalized groups such as Aboriginal and Vietnamese-Australian injectors-messages about HIV/AIDS risk are either not penetrating or are being ignored, and needle and other equipment sharing still appears to be common. The strategy of providing access to needles and syringes as a separate activity from peer education among injecting drug users (IDUs) needs to be reconsidered in the light of the widespread epidemic of hepatitis C among Australian IDUs. The level of supply of all injecting equipment also needs to be increased to assist all IDUs in learning and carrying out an aseptic injecting technique given the lack of an effective disinfection technique to prevent the spread of hepatitis C, and me problems surrounding both the promotion of disinfection and the promotion of noninjecting routes of administration.     

Resilience Among IDUs: Planning Strategies to Help Injection Drug Users to Protect Themselves and Others From HIV/HCV Infections

Many long-term injection drug users (IDUs) engage in planning strategies. In this pilot study, we examine the relation of one planning strategy to IDUs’ engaging in safer injection practices. Sixty-eight IDUs were recruited in from a New York City (NYC) needle exchange program and referrals to participate in an innovative Staying Safe Intervention that teaches strategies to stay HIV/HCV uninfected. Responses to a baseline 185-item survey were analyzed using correlations and odds ratios. Planning ahead to have steady access to clean equipment was correlated with both individually based and networks-based safety behaviors including storing clean needles; avoiding sharing needles, cookers, and filters with other injectors; and providing clean needles to sex partners. Implications related to resilience in IDUs are discussed and the study's limitations have been noted.     

BRIDGE TO SERVICES: DRUG INJECTORS' AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF DRUG USER TREATMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS,MEDICAL CARE,AND HIV TESTING PROVIDED BY NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Using qualitative interviews conducted in 1999, we examine awareness and use of drug user treatment and social service referrals, medical care, and HIV testing provided by needle exchange programs (NEPs) among injectors who use NEPs (N = 26) and injectors who get their syringes from other sources (N = 20). A four-category typology of NEP service knowledge and use emerges from these interviews: “Active involvement”—use of services; “Steppingstone”—no use of services but knowledge that specific services are available; “Vague awareness”—nonspecific knowledge of service availability; and “Unaware:—no awareness of the service provision function of NEPs. We describe patterns of distribution of respondents among these categories and suggest policy implications.     

云南四川部分城市注射毒品人群高危行为的快速需求评估

目的 :评估云南省和四川省部分城市注射毒品人群感染HIV的高危险行为。方法 :采用随机抽样和“滚雪球”的方法 ,对云南省和四川省四个地区注射毒品人群进行高危行为的流行学调查 ,并将结果做分析比较。结果 :四川省的吸毒者主要以静脉注射毒品和烫吸毒品为主 ,而云南省的吸毒者则更多以静脉注射毒品为主。 4个城市吸毒者共用注射器的比例分别为 :昆明市 74 5 % ,西昌市 5 8 8% ,绵阳市 34 1%和保山市 2 8 8%。这些吸毒者都很少消毒注射器 ,平均每天的吸毒次数云南 2 - 3次 ,四川 2次。安全套使用率都比较低 ,特别是在与非固定性伴的性行为中 ,昆明市吸毒者安全套的使用率为 2 7% ,保山市为 4 1 7% ,绵阳市和西昌市分别为 33 3%和 30 8%。结论 :四川省和云南省被调查的吸毒者都存在有不同程度的与HIV传播相关的高危险行为     

Resilience among IDUs: planning strategies to help injection drug users to protect themselves and others from HIV/HCV infections

Many long-term injection drug users (IDUs) engage in planning strategies. In this pilot study, we examine the relation of one planning strategy to IDUs' engaging in safer injection practices. Sixty-eight IDUs were recruited in 2010 from a New York City (NYC) needle exchange program and referrals to participate in an innovative Staying Safe Intervention that teaches strategies to stay HIV/HCV uninfected. Responses to a baseline 185-item survey were analyzed using correlations and odds ratios. Planning ahead to have steady access to clean equipment was correlated with both individually based and networks-based safety behaviors including storing clean needles; avoiding sharing needles, cookers, and filters with other injectors; and providing clean needles to sex partners. Implications related to resilience in IDUs are discussed and the study's limitations have been noted.     

Psychiatric and Physiological Reactions Produced by Over-the-Counter Medications

Abstract

Injecting practices of illicit drug users in San Antonio, Texas, were studied by means of informal field interviews and participant observation. The methods injection drug users (IDUs) employed to obtain drugs seemed to affect their HIV risk behaviors. Many of the methods involve reciprocal exchanges between a person who has drugs and a person who wants drugs. The exchanges frequently occur in the context of asymmetrical social interactions. The person with the drugs usually occupies the dominant role in the interaction and determines the needle hygiene for both parties. Analysis of the decision-making process of IDUs indicates that the party in the dominant role may choose not to disinfect a syringe for a variety of reasons. An understanding of the subcultural rules that govern these interactions may provide valuable clues to researchers or educators who are designing interventions aimed at reducing HIV risk behaviors among IDUs. This research suggests that for IDUs in subordinate roles, education alone may be insufficient to produce behavior changes necessary to eliminate risk of HIV infection.     

Development and implementation of a cross-border HIV prevention intervention for injection drug users in Ning Ming County (Guangxi Province), China and Lang Son Province, Vietnam

This paper describes the background and early implementation of a peer-based HIV prevention intervention involving social marketing of sterile needles and syringes for injection drug users (IDUs) in a border region of northern Vietnam and southern China. Peer educators collect and safely dispose of used needles and syringes and provide IDUs with a choice of new needles/syringes or vouchers redeemable in pharmacies and clinics for new needles/syringes. The project arose from a pattern of changing drug use and increasing HIV infection in the region but its development took 4 years and faced many challenges. Implementation of the intervention posed a new set of challenges for the participating health departments, police, peer educators, pharmacists, injection drug users, and the communities at large. Early implementation of the project has revealed successful multi-sectoral collaboration, and broad acceptance by IDUs of pharmacy vouchers and distribution of new needles/syringes. However, IDUs’ persistent fear of the police, particularly in Vietnam, has required reliance on separate collection by peer educators of used needles/syringes and distribution of pharmacy vouchers and new needles. In China, new needles/syringes and vouchers are largely being provided through exchange. Understanding the development and implementation challenges and the strategies that were successful in overcoming them (including the importance of being flexible and adaptable to contextual factors) may be useful to those interested in launching similar, much-needed interventions in other parts of the world.     

A brief intervention for hazardous drinkers in a needle exchange program

Active injection drug users (IDUs) who are also hazardous alcohol users are at particularly high risk for HIV transmission due to sharing of injection equipment. We recruited AUDIT-positive injectors from the Providence, RI needle exchange program for a randomized clinical trial testing the effect of a brief motivational intervention (MI) on frequency of injection-related HIV risk behavior (IRRB). HIV drug risk behavior was measured as the number of days on which subjects reported sharing works using the 30-day Timeline Followback Method. Overall, 109 subjects reported a mean reduction of IRRB days of 9.1 days from baseline to 6-month follow-up (p <.001). When compared to controls, there was a trend in reduction of IRRB days to zero at follow-up for MI subject (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.9-4.5), and strongly significant reductions in IRRB days across a range of alternative improvement thresholds. Results from this study demonstrate that MI reduces drug-related HIV risk behaviors among active IDUs. As a brief intervention, MI may be a useful adjunct to existing services intended to reduce harm.     

Correlates of sharing injection equipment among male injecting drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal

BackgroundHIV prevalence is high and risky injection practices occur frequently among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal. We explored the correlates of sharing injection equipment (having injected with a needle or syringe previously used by another) among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal.MethodsFrom August to September 2007, we anonymously interviewed 296 male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal, using a structured questionnaire. We performed bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis and identified variables associated with sharing injection equipment.ResultsOver half (n = 152) of the participants reported injecting drugs with a needle or syringe previously used by another in the past year. Of these, 70% reported engaging in sharing injection equipment with multiple persons. The unavailability of new needles and drinking alcohol were independently associated with sharing injection equipment among the study participants.ConclusionsIDUs who drank alcohol or who could not obtain new needles when needed were more likely to share injection equipment. Our results suggest that reducing alcohol use and increasing the availability of new needles and syringes might improve safer injection practices among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal.     

Needle exchange and the geography of survival in the South Bronx

This paper explores the position of needle exchange programmes (NEPs) in the "geography of survival" in the South Bronx neighbourhood of New York City. Stemming the spread of HIV through the provision of sterile injecting equipment, needle exchange promotes the survival of injection drug users (IDUs) in the starkest sense; yet NEPs also attract a diverse population of service users whose attendance is not necessarily related to drugs. This paper locates NEPs among a larger constellation of social services accessed by residents of poor neighbourhoods, including injection drug users, the homeless, the hungry, and those in need of medical services or just safe space. Drawing on ethnographic and interview data from a needle exchange in the South Bronx, I describe how both IDUs and others employed the organisation to make ends meet, elaborating four "off-label" usages of needle exchange: as a place to obtain basic necessities, as a source of income, as a safe space, and as a site of social contact. As harm reduction in the United States moves towards an increasingly clinical model of care, this paper considers these latent functions of needle exchange within the context of a larger struggle over the content and meaning of harm reduction services. By themselves, NEPs are clearly an unsatisfactory solution to the economic and political circumstances that drive a variety of individuals through their doors; yet, in a country that lacks a comprehensive welfare system, needle exchange arguably represents an important thread within a social safety net that is being woven from the ground up. This study may be used to argue for a (re)expanded mission for harm reduction in the United States, in the face of constant moves to narrow its mandate and reduce its budget.     

南宁市吸毒人群婚外性行为现状及影响因素分析

目的:了解南宁市吸毒人群婚外性行为现状,分析其影响因素。方法:采用匿名填写问卷的方式,对来自社区和戒毒所的781名吸毒人员进行艾滋病预防知识和行为调查。结果:当地吸毒人群最近一年与临时性伴、商业性伴发生性关系的比例分别达到了40.1%和15.0%。男性、低年龄组、非在婚状态的吸毒者发生婚外性行为的水平较高;有共用针具行为的吸毒者与临时性伴、商业性伴发生性关系的水平均明显高于不共用针具者。分别有47.6%、37.6%的吸毒人员在与临时性伴、商业性伴发生性关系时从不使用安全套。对与临时性伴发生性关系的多因素Lgistic回归分析显示,性别、年龄、婚姻状况、是否与他人共用过注射器、艾滋病预防知识得分是具有统计学显著意义的影响因素。对与商业性伴发生性关系的多因素Lgistic回归分析显示,性别、首次注射吸毒年龄、是否与他人共用过注射器是具有统计学显著意义的影响因素。结论:稳定的婚姻关系有助于减少吸毒人员与临时性伴发生性关系,但是无助于减少与商业性伴的性行为;共用注射器是增加吸毒人群与临时性伴、商业性伴发生性关系的影响因素;掌握艾滋病预防知识并不能减少吸毒人群的婚外性行为,在加强艾滋病防治知识宣教的同时,更加要侧重于行为的干预。     

Collateral damage in the war on drugs: HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users

Objective: To determine whether two key War on Drugs policies, the criminalization of syringes and the disqualification of drug users from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, are associated with injection-related human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs). Methods: IDUs were interviewed regarding HIV risk behaviors, drug use, and criminal activities in six San Francisco Bay Area communities in 1996 and followed through 1997 (n=1257). Multivariate analysis was conducted to examine the association between concern about arrest while carrying drug paraphernalia and injection-related risk behaviors. Regarding SSI, respondents were interviewed before (1996) and after (1997) drug and alcohol addicts were disqualified from SSI (n=88). Bivariate analysis was conducted comparing IDUs who lost SSI benefits with those who retained benefits. Results: Among our study sample, 32% of IDUs reported being concerned about possible arrest while carrying drug paraphernalia. In multivariate analysis, concerned IDUs were over one-and-a-half times more likely to share syringes than IDUs not concerned (adjusted odds ratio=1.74; 95% confidence interval =1.24, 2.44). Regarding SSI, 60% (53/88) of baseline SSI recipients had lost benefits by their follow-up interview. IDUs who lost benefits were more likely to participate in illegal activities (48 vs. 27%; P<0.05), more likely to share syringes (17 vs. 0%; P<0.05) and injected drugs on average more (43.8 vs. 36.4 per month; P<0.03) than those who retained benefits. Conclusions: These data suggest that War on Drugs policies which deny injection equipment and federal income support to IDUs also increase their risk for HIV infection, and should be reconsidered.     

Injecting drug use,risk behaviour and risk environment in Hungary: A qualitative analysis

There is an absence of qualitative research investigating risk behaviour and risk environments associated with the transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Hungary. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 33 IDUs who had injected at least once during last 30 days. Participants were residents of Budapest and Pécs, mostly aged 22–25 years, and comprised 22 men and 11 women. The interviews focused on the preparation and division of drug solution and on the shared use of needles and syringes and other injecting paraphernalia, as well as the physical, social, economic and policy components of the injecting micro-environment. Interviews were analysed using Atlas.ti computer software. Findings identified that the division of the drug solution between injectors typically involved the shared use of cooking equipment, filters and water containers. Collective preparation was often followed by shared needle and syringe use. Withdrawal symptoms were perceived to increase the likelihood of such risky behaviour. This study highlights BBV risks arising from the micro-risk environment of injecting drug use, and emphasises the importance of setting and context in harm reduction interventions.     

Using Stages of Change to Assess Intervention Readiness and Outcome in Modifying Drug-Related and Sexual HIV Risk Behaviors of IDUs and Crack Users

SUMMARY

This paper examines the utility of the stages-of-change model in assessing intervention readiness and measuring the outcome of targeted interventions in modifying eight drug-related and sexual risk behaviors of active drug users. Injection drug and crack cocaine users (N = 560) recruited through street outreach were administered questionnaires measuring intentions, behaviors, and beliefs pertaining to eight drug-related and sexual strategies for reducing personal HIV risk at the time of their enrollment in an HIV risk intervention program. Six-month follow-up data were available for 205 of the 325 individuals who were eligible for follow-up. At baseline, a large percentage of injectors were in the action or maintenance stage with regard to safe injection practices. Men were significantly higher than women in stage of change for not sharing needles. Very few individuals were using condoms with their main partner, but the percentage was much higher with casual partners, especially among sex workers. Follow-up data indicated a general shift toward higher stages for all behaviors, with changes in both intentional and behavioral stages. Differences between initial and final stage of change were statistically significant for all target behaviors except condom use with main partner.     

Social support and zero sharing risk among hazardously drinking injection drug users

We compared the sociodemographic, drug use, and social support characteristics of injection drug users (IDUs) who reported at least 6 months having not "shared needles or works" (zero sharing risk) with those who reported recent equipment sharing. 187 AUDIT-positive (>8), active IDUs were recruited between February 1998 and October 1999 from a needle exchange program in Providence, RI. The sample was 64% male and 87% white, with a mean age of 36 years, and 32% of subjects reported zero sharing risk in the prior 6 months. Variables having significant (P<.05) associations with zero sharing risk included: older age, lower heroin use frequency, lower cocaine use, and increased frequency of needle exchange visits. As social support from friends increased, the likelihood of sharing decreased. Subjects with substance-using friends or partners were significantly more likely to share than those without such associations (OR = 9.4; P<.05). Social support and social network composition influenced sharing behaviors in active, out-of-treatment drug injectors. Interventions that mobilize social support may increase the possibility of zero sharing, an important public health goal.