Needle fixation, the drug user's perspective: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
Changing drug users' injecting behaviour is central to the project of drug services. Information about the idea of "needle fixation" is fragmentary and of uncertain relevance to contemporary injecting drug users. The aim of the study is to describe injecting drug users' ideas about needle fixation.


METHODS
Twenty-four participants, some of whom identified themselves as needle fixated, were recruited from four drugs agencies in south Wales. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews, recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analysed using Atlas/ti software.


RESULTS
Participants describe a range of behaviours and experiences which fit with previous ideas of needle fixation, including ritualization, substitution of other drugs, injection of water and associations with deliberate-self-harm and sex. Participants describe high levels of needle aversion and add detail to previous partial descriptions of needle fixation.


CONCLUSIONS
Issues conveniently considered together as needle fixation are current among injecting drug users and may be relevant to the inability of some drug users to change from injecting drug use.
McBride
A J
AJ
Community Addiction Unit, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Cardiff, UK.
Pates
R M
RM
Arnold
K
K
Ball
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*