Introduction: Sharing contaminated needles and other paraphernalia by injection drug users (IDUs) places them at risk for the transmission of blood-borne diseases. Easier access to sterile needles may partially prevent these diseases. Although it is legal in Louisiana to purchase sterile needles from a pharmacy, paraphernalia laws prohibit individuals from possessing or distributing needles without a medical reason. The purpose of this study was to determine where young IDUs in New Orleans acquire needles and to describe social and demographic characteristics associated with accessing sterile needles, specifically from pharmacies and needle exchange programs (NEPs).
Methods: Street intercept interviews were conducted between September, 1997 and January, 1999 in two New Orleans neighborhoods identified as high density areas of drug use. Factors associated with acquiring a sterile needle the last time of injection (i.e. from a pharmacy or NEP) were examined using multivariate logistic regression in SPSS.
Results: Of the 200 IDUs included in the analyses, 36.5% reported obtaining the needle used for their last injection from a reliable source (i.e. pharmacy (25%) or NEP (11.5%)). Thirty-nine percent reported never purchasing a needle from a pharmacy. Factors associated with acquiring a sterile needle (i.e. from a pharmacy or NEP) the last time they shot up were Caucasian/other race vs. African-American (3.70 (C.I. 1.72-7.99)), and age ³21 vs. age <21 (2.42 (1.28, 4.56)).
Conclusion: Few IDUs in New Orleans either purchase clean needles from a pharmacy or access NEPs. Outreach activities to promote sterile needle among IDUs should target young African-Americans.
Learning Objectives: 1. To describe the role of injection drugs in the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne diseases 2. To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for not accessing sterile needles among young injecting drug users
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Drug Injectors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.