Impact of new legislation on needle and syringe purchase and possession--Connecticut, 1992.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other bloodborne pathogens are transmitted among injecting-drug users (IDUs) through the reuse and sharing of contaminated needles and syringes (NSs). Of the 689 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases reported in Connecticut in 1992, 413 (60%) were associated with injecting-drug use. To help reduce IDUs' use of contaminated NSs, Connecticut enacted laws effective July 1, 1992, that allow the purchase without a prescription of up to 10 NSs at one time in pharmacies and the possession of up to 10 clean NSs. Before this date, purchase and possession of NSs without a prescription had been illegal in Connecticut. This report presents preliminary information from the first 5 months of an ongoing evaluation to determine whether the new laws affected pharmacy-based NS sales, IDUs' reported knowledge of the laws and places to obtain NSs, and law enforcement officers' risk for needlestick injuries.
D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007885:Legislation, Pharmacy; D009339:Needles / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D016495:Police; D013219:State Government; D013594:Syringes / Q000600:supply & distribution*