OBJECTIVE: This project examined the self-reported degree of difficulty on sterile needle and syringe acquisition among young intravenous drug users in Los Angeles, California. METHODS: 390 IDUs were recruited through street-intercept interviews for the Collaborative Injection Drug Users Study II (CIDUS II) between 1997 and 1999. RESULTS: IDUs were young (38 % were in the 15-20 age group; 57% were in the 21-29 age group); relatively white (59%); single (88%); and relatively homeless for the last 6 months prior to their research interview (67.8%). Stratified analyses controlling for gender, age, and race showed that respondents who thought that a Needle Exchange Program (NEP) was too far or inconveniently located for exchange of used needles and syringes were less likely to acquire sterile needles and syringes from a NEP. After controlling for gender, female IDU respondents who thought that a NEP was too far away were found to be almost 3 times as likely as those who did not think a NEP was too far, to perceive finding new injection equipment a difficult activity (OR=2.78; p-value=0.011). Hispanic women were more likely to think that obtaining new injection paraphernalia was difficult when they thought a NEP was too far from where they lived than white female IDUs (OR=3.38; p-value=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these study findings, NEPs in Los Angeles need to expand their outreach activities to reach and encourage young IDUs to exchange their used injection equipment, rather than depending on their own social networks for access to sterile injection equipment.
Learning Objectives: Describe three access barriers to needle exchange programs among a cohort of young intravenous drug use initiates in Los Angeles, California
Keywords: Adolescents, Needle Exchange
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.