Recorded presentation

Elizabeth T Golub, PhD, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2526, egolub@jhsph.edu, Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD, Division of International Health and Cross Cultural Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Ash Building, La Jolla, CA 92093-0622, Mary Latka, PhD, Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, Holly Hagan, PhD, NDRI, 71 West 23rd, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, Susan L. Bailey, PhD, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 923), 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, Sharon M. Hudson, PhD, Health Research Association, 1111 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038, Joseph Bareta, MS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, 2nd FL, Baltimore, MD 21205, and Richard S. Garfein, PhD, MPH, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Background: Distributive syringe sharing (i.e., passing on used syringes [DSS]) may transmit HIV, HCV and other blood-borne infections to others. We studied prevalence and correlates of DSS in a multi-site cohort of injection drug users (IDUs). Methods: Participants were IDUs aged 15-30 years in Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of DSS during the past 3 months, stratified by HCV serostatus. Results: Of 2159 participants, 69% were male, 68% were Caucasian, 34% were HCV-seropositive and median age was 24 years. A higher proportion of HCV-seropositive versus HCV-seronegative IDUs reported DSS during the past 3 months (61% vs. 51%, p<0.001); 55% of HCV-seropositive IDUs knowing their serostatus reported DSS. For both HCV-seropositive and HCV-seronegative IDUs, having injection partners who “think one should never inject with used needles” was associated with 40% lower odds of DSS (p<0.05). Lower odds of DSS was also associated with using needle exchange for both groups (adjusted odds ratio ([AOR]: 0.6 and 0.7 respectively; p<0.05), whereas increased odds of DSS was associated with having friends who inject with used needles (AOR: 2.3 and 3.4; p<0.05). Among HCV-seropositive IDUs, believing that sharing needles will increase risk of HIV infection was negatively associated with DSS (AOR=0.7; 95%CI: 0.5-0.8). Among HCV-seropositive IDUs, trying to comply with peer expectations regarding sharing needles also increased the odds of DSS (AOR=2.4; 95%CI:1.6-3.7). Conclusions: Peer influence was strongly associated with DSS among young IDUs. Interventions to reduce DSS should aim to change peer norms.

Learning Objectives:

• To emphasize the risks of blood borne disase transmission associated with disctributive needle sharing.
• To emphasize the role of peer influence in shaping behaviors of young drug users.

Keywords: Drug Injectors, Adolescents

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.

Recorded presentation