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

Abstract #116565

Sherry Deren, PhD¹, Charles M. Cleland, PhD², Crystal Fuller, PhD³, Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD², Don C. Des Jarlais, PhD⁴, and David Vlahov, PhD⁵. (1) Center for Drug Use & HIV Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23 Street, 8 Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4463, Deren@NDRI.org, (2) Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI), 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10010, (3) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, (4) Center for Drug Use & HIV Research, Beth Israel Medical Center & National Development and Research Institutes, New York, New York, 71 West 23d Street, New York, NY 10010, (5) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies (CUES), New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029

Background. Syringe sources used by injection drug users (IDUs) were examined pre- and post- implementation of a New York State syringe deregulation program (ESAP)-permitting syringes to be obtained from pharmacists/health care providers without prescription. Methods: Puerto Rican IDUs were interviewed in East Harlem, NY in 1998-99 (T1), and 6, 36 and 42 months later (T2, T3 and T4); T3 and T4 occurred after the 2001 ESAP implementation. There were 130 IDUs (78% male) who reported continued injection post-legislation. Syringe sources (in past 30 days) and changes from pre- to post-legislation, were examined by safe (NEP and ESAP) vs. possibly unsafe (e.g., needle dealer, friend) sources. Results: At T1, IDUs reported an average of 81 injections (prior 30 days). The total number of syringes used was 45, 56% coming from NEP, and less than 1% from ESAP sources. At T4, 75% of syringes used came from NEPs, 6% from ESAP sources (primarily pharmacies). Post-ESAP, 67% of those reporting any use of ESAP sources had used possibly unsafe sources pre-ESAP. In multivariate analysis, those who injected more frequently were more likely to use ESAP sources (AOR=1.40, CI=1.00-1.95). Conclusions: Most IDUs who began using ESAP were previously using possibly unsafe syringe sources. ESAP may have contributed to an increase in NEP use, perhaps due to increased information about the importance of using sterile syringes or reduced stigma associated with procuring syringes. Research on the longer-term impact of ESAP on IDUs' syringe sources is needed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the syringe deregulation legislation which occurred in New York State in 2001
• Articulate syringe sources for IDUs and the changes in sources which occurred after the legislative change.
• Identify predictors of pharmacy use for syringes by IDUs.

Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Syringe Exchange

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.