title: Mad, bad and dangerous to know: dimensions and measurement of attitudes toward injecting drug users.
abstract: Attitudes toward injecting drug users were assessed using a 53-item questionnaire which was administered to 143 workers at a drug and alcohol research unit and an AIDS treatment facility. Factor analysis revealed three interpretable dimensions: intravenous drug use as a matter of both public concern and personal inadequacy; intravenous drug users as criminals who should be removed from society; and social avoidance of, and personal distaste for, intravenous drug users. The scale and subscales had good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Its potential use as a measure of attitudes toward injecting drug users for both treatment research and AIDS research is discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012928:Social Desirability; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation