title: GC-MS confirmation of xylazine (Rompun), a veterinary sedative, in exchanged needles.
abstract: In order to assess the extent of xylazine (Xyz) injection in Puerto Rico, two waves of used-syringe collections were performed. In the first, syringes were gathered, anonymously and without additional information; in the second, a short interview, also anonymous, was administered. We found Xyz in 37.6% of the collected syringes; the majority of the Xyz-containing syringes came from ranching communities. Syringes containing Xyz more frequently also contained "speedball" than those without (90.6% and 66.7%, respectively). Self-reports of Xyz injection deviated markedly from actual detection: only 50% (self-described users) and 22% (self-described non-users) of the collected syringes contained the drug. With a high prevalence of skin ulcers (38.5% vs. 6.8%; p<0.001), Xyz users were more likely to be in poor health compared to non-users. Surprisingly, though a higher percentage of Xyz users than non-users had college-level educations (23.1% vs. 5.5%), they were more likely to be homeless (64.1% vs. 37%).
authors.affiliation: Ponce School of Medicine, AIDS Research Program, PO Box 7004, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, United States.
authors.forename: Nayra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vargas Vidot
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panelli
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Colón
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamura
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013594:Syringes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014991:Xylazine