GC-MS confirmation of xylazine (Rompun), a veterinary sedative, in exchanged needles.
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%).
Rodríguez
Nayra
N
Ponce School of Medicine, AIDS Research Program, PO Box 7004, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, United States.
Vargas Vidot
José
J
Panelli
Juan
J
Colón
Héctor
H
Ritchie
Bob
B
Yamamura
Yasuhiro
Y
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
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014991:Xylazine