Background: As part of a multi-city study of HIV and hepatitis risk among active injection drug users (IDUs), we have collected data on various sources of syringes among active drug injectors in New Haven and Hartford, CT and Springfield MA. Hartford and New Haven are cities with a legally operating Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) and with non-prescription availability of syringes through pharmacies. In Springfield, MA, however, there are currently no legal sources of syringes for drug injectors. This presentation will provide analysis of three research questions: 1) What are the various sources of syringes for drug injectors in cities with and without legal access to syringes? 2) What is the relationship among sources of syringes and their use and discard? 3) How do these relationships vary within cities and neighborhoods? Data sources: Over the last two years, data have been collected using structured survey interviews, and ethnographic methods including focus groups, key-informant interviews, diary interviews and direct field observations. Analysis: Drug injectors in the study will be categorized by their usual sources of syringes into those reporting legal and sanctioned (pharmacies, SEP) sources as well those reporting other sources of syringes (underground market, diabetic relatives, etc.) We will then examine the associations among sources of syringes and their reported use and discard. The purpose of the analysis is to identify patterns of HIV related risk behaviors and their socio-legal contexts with an eye towards the development of targeted interventions.
Learning Objectives: To learn the relationship between source of syringes and their use and discard among injection drug users To learn the limits of epidemiology in examining HIV risk among drug injectors To appreciate the necessity and contribution of social science to epidemiology in understanding HIV risk among drug users
Keywords: Injection Drug Users, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.