title: Nonprescription syringe sales: a missed opportunity for HIV prevention in California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess implementation of California Senate Bill SB41 in two inland California counties where prevalence of injection drug use is among the highest in the nation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Syringe purchase trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresno and Kern counties, California.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 248 community pharmacies in the counties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Successful or unsuccessful syringe purchase attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 52 (21.0%) syringe purchase attempts were successful. The proportion of successful attempts did not vary by county or by data collector ethnicity. The most common reasons for unsuccessful syringe purchase attempts were prescription requirements (45.7%), the requested syringe size was not available (10.7%), and the pharmacy did not sell syringes (9.7%). In addition, some syringe purchase attempts (4.1%) were unsuccessful because the data collector was asked to purchase more syringes than allowed by law. Although 80% and 78% of Fresno and Kern residents, respectively, live within a 5-minute drive of a community pharmacy, less than one-half live within a 5-minute drive of a community pharmacy that sold syringes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SB41 has not resulted in broad pharmacy-based syringe access in California's inland counties, where a disproportionate number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are associated with injection drug use. Additional steps by legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, and professional organizations are needed to actively engage pharmacies in expanding nonprescription syringe sales to reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users.
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pollini
authors.forename: Abby E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Case
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology; D024382:Professional Role; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013594:Syringes / Q000191:economics*