HIV risk behaviors associated with the injection process: multiperson use of drug injection equipment and paraphernalia in injection drug user networks.
This study examines drug acquisition and multiperson use of paraphernalia, drugs, and needles/syringes. Ethnographers observed 54 injection episodes in which IDUs were linked by HIV risk behaviors, and developed a typology of higher-risk, lower-risk, and nonsharing-risk networks. Multiperson use of injection paraphernalia or drug solution occurred in most injection events (94%). Serial use of syringes/needles occurred infrequently (14%) relative to "backloading" (37%) and reuse of paraphernalia (cookers 84%, cotton 77%, water 77%). Higher-risk injection networks were characterized by larger size and pooling of resources for drugs. Prevention messages must include avoiding reuse of injection paraphernalia and transfer of drug solution.
Needle
R H
RH
National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA. rh28e@nih.gov
Coyle
S
S
Cesari
H
H
Trotter
R
R
Clatts
M
M
Koester
S
S
Price
L
L
McLellan
E
E
Finlinson
A
A
Bluthenthal
R N
RN
Pierce
T
T
Johnson
J
J
Jones
T S
TS
Williams
M
M
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019370:Observation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population