Individual and structural influences shaping pharmacists' decisions to sell syringes to injection drug users in Atlanta, Georgia.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand the individual (e.g., attitudes and beliefs) and structural (e.g., laws and regulations) factors that influence and shape pharmacists' decisions about selling syringes to injection drug users (IDUs).


METHODS
Qualitative research.


METHODS
Metropolitan Atlanta. PARICIPANTS: 20 practicing pharmacists who work in or near areas of high drug use in Atlanta, and nine pharmacists who are considered leaders in their profession in Georgia.


METHODS
Semistructured, in-depth interviews.


METHODS
Individual and structural factors that influence pharmacists' decisions about selling syringes to IDUs.


RESULTS
Pharmacists reported that they use their professional discretion in making syringe sale decisions and that these decisions are influenced by individuals factors such as their personal attitudes and beliefs about the nature and causes of drug use, and by structural factors such as the Georgia Board of Pharmacy regulation stating that syringes cannot be sold if they will be used for an "unlawful purpose."


CONCLUSIONS
IDUs' access to sterile syringes from pharmacies in Atlanta, would likely be increased by (1) providing practicing pharmacists with professional education programs that describe the broad professional support for IDU access to sterile syringes and why blood-borne infection prevention is a legitimate medical purpose for selling syringes and (2) removing or modifying the restrictive Board of Pharmacy regulation governing syringe sales.
Taussig
Jennifer
J
Georgia Department of Corrections, Atlanta 30334, USA. taussj00@dcor.state.ga.us
Junge
Benjamin
B
Burris
Scott
S
Jones
T Stephen
TS
Sterk
Claire E
CE
D001741:Black or African American; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013594:Syringes / Q000600:supply & distribution*