Laws prohibiting over-the-counter syringe sales to injection drug users: relations to population density, HIV prevalence, and HIV incidence.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to assess relations of laws prohibiting over-the-counter syringe sales (anti-OTC laws) to population prevalence of injection drug users and HIV prevalence or incidence among 96 US metropolitan areas.


METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis was used.


RESULTS
Metropolitan areas with anti-OTC laws had a higher mean HIV prevalence (13.8% vs 6.7%) than other metropolitan areas (pseudo-P < .001). In 83 metropolitan areas with HIV prevalence of less than 20%, anti-OTC laws were associated with HIV incidence rates of 1% or greater (pseudo-P < .001). Population proportions of injection drug users did not vary by presence of anti-OTC laws.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-OTC laws are not associated with lower population proportions of injection drug users. Laws restricting syringe access are associated with HIV transmission and should be repealed.
Friedman
S R
SR
National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, Two World Trade Center, 16th Fl, New York, NY 10048, USA. sam.friedman@ndri.org
Perlis
T
T
Des Jarlais
D C
DC
D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology*; D013594:Syringes / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology