Low-frequency heroin injection among out-of-treatment, street-recruited injection drug users.
In this paper, we explore the understudied phenomenon of "low-frequency" heroin injection in a sample of street-recruited heroin injectors not in drug treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2,410 active injection drug users (IDUs) recruited in San Francisco, California from 2000 to 2005. We compare the sociodemographic characteristics and injection risk behaviors of low-frequency heroin injectors (low-FHI; one to 10 self-reported heroin injections in the past 30 days) to high-frequency heroin injectors (high-FHI; 30 or more self-reported heroin injections in the past 30 days). Fifteen percent of the sample met criteria for low-FHI. African American race, men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior, and injection and noninjection methamphetamine use were independently associated with low-FHI. Compared to high-FHI, low-FHI were less likely to report syringe sharing and nonfatal heroin overdose. A small but significant proportion of heroin injectors inject heroin 10 or less times per month. Additional research is needed to qualitatively examine low-frequency heroin injection and its relationship to drug use trajectories.
RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. jlh@rti.org
Jennie L
JL
Harris
Jennifer
J
Lorvick
Lynn
L
Wenger
Tania
T
Wilkins
Martin Y
MY
Iguchi
Philippe
P
Bourgois
Alex H
AH
Kral
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016485:Needle Sharing; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin