The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72655

Dita A. Davis and Lawrence J. Ouellet, PhD. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-355-4753, ddavis8@uic.edu

Objectives: To describe noninjecting heroin users in Chicago, initiation into using the drug, previous knowledge of the drug, and decisions regarding injection. Methods: Current non-injecting heroin users 16-30 years old were recruited in metropolitan Chicago to evaluate drug use and sexual practices associated with HIV, HBV, and HCV infections. Data from 40 ethnographic interviews will be presented. Results: To date, study participants are mostly male (59%) and African-American (73%), the median age is 28 and median age at first heroin use is 17. Few participants are primarily crack users who use heroin to moderate crack’s undesirable effects. Initiation to heroin use almost always was facilitated by someone socially close to the participant and without pressure to use. Initiates lacked an understanding of heroin’s physically addictive properties and did not see themselves at risk for addiction. Snorting equipment (e.g. straws) typically is shared during initiation and later, and rarely is seen as a possible disease vector. The time from first to weekly use of heroin usually is brief. Most NIHU report feeling surprised upon first recognizing they were addicted and had to seek the advice from friends to reach this conclusion. African-Americans typically report relatively long periods of heroin use without injecting, highly negative attitudes and images regarding this practice, and a desire to avoid persons who inject drugs. Conclusion: Initiates to heroin use often are poorly informed about the drug’s properties. Current NIHU proceeded quickly to regular heroin use, but African Americans appear resistant to injecting the drug.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify initiation patterns in noninjecting heroin users.
• Assess opportunities for preventing initiation of heroin use.

Keywords: Drug Use, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.