Needle-use practices among intravenous drug users in an area where needle purchase is legal.
Needle-use practices of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) were examined in a region (Seattle, King Country, Washington State, USA) where needle purchase is legal. IVDUs in treatment (n = 313) were administered extensive structured interviews concerning drug and injection equipment-use practices. Of the 80.2% reporting intravenous drug use in the previous year, 78.3% reported sharing needles. Of the 47.7% reporting intravenous use in the previous 30 days, only 40.5% shared needles, with 59.3% sharing with only one other person. Most needle-sharing partners were very well known (63%) or well known (17%) to the subjects. The most frequent method for obtaining needles was 'buying in a drug store', ranked first by 65% of the sample. Subjects whose primary source was 'buying in a drug store' shared equipment less frequently during drug-use events in the previous year (mean: 16.2%) than those with other primary sources (mean: 28.5%). Compared with findings from other regions where needle purchase and possession are illegal without a prescription, fewer subjects in the current investigation shared needles, and those who did shared with a smaller number of people. The apparent association between legalized injection equipment and reduced sharing of equipment among IVDUs should be further examined in longitudinal studies of needle-sharing before and after legalization is instituted.
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Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98108.
Saxon
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Freeman
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Whittaker
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D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007885:Legislation, Pharmacy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D014861:Washington