Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114004

James M. Tesoriero, PhD¹, Haven B. Battles, PhD¹, Karyn K. Heavner, MSPH¹, Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, MSW¹, Guthrie Birkhead, MD, MPH², and Susan J. Klein, MS². (1) Office of Program Evaluation and Research, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, 150 Broadway, Menands, NY 12204, (518) 402-6814, jmt07@health.state.ny.us, (2) AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Building, Room 1483, Albany, NY 12237

BACKGROUND: The Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) permits the sale of ≤10 syringes to persons ≥18 years old without a prescription. A 2001 survey of ESAP-registered pharmacies uncovered favorable attitudes and few problems associated with ESAP. It also found that many pharmacies imposed additional procedures on syringe sales and that sales volume was low for most pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: To compare responses from the 2001 survey to those from ESAP-registered pharmacies surveyed in 2004.

METHODS: Statewide probability samples of ESAP-registered pharmacies surveyed at baseline (2001) and in 2004. Over 500 pharmacies completed surveys in both years, with comparable response rates in 2001 (75%) and 2004 (71%).

RESULTS: Many responses remained unchanged between baseline and follow-up: Over 75% agreed that ESAP had increased emergency access to syringes; over 90% reported no/very few problems with ESAP; and over 90% believed that the 10 syringes/transaction limit was appropriate. As in 2001, over 40% imposed additional procedures on syringe sales in 2004. Nearly 80% of pharmacies reported selling sharps containers in 2004. The mean number of syringes sold increased by 32% between the baseline (57/month) and follow-up periods (75/month). As in 2001, pharmacists who were not members of a pharmacy chain expressed more favorable attitudes/experiences with ESAP in 2004.

CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies continue to exhibit favorable attitudes and experiences with ESAP. Utilization of ESAP also appears to be increasing, however placing additional restrictions on non-prescription syringe sales may be contributing to lower sales levels in many pharmacies. Efforts to educate pharmacies about ESAP are ongoing.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the audience will be able to

(
• Describe New York's Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) (
• Describe pharmacists' attitudes, practices, and experiences with ESAP, and changes in these characteristics between baseline and follow-up periods (
• Describe the role that ESAP is playing in safer injection drug using behavior in New York State

Keywords: Pharmacies, Syringe Sources

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.