Safer injection facility use and syringe sharing in injection drug users

Lancet. 2005 Jul;366(9482):316-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66475-6.

Abstract

Safer injection facilities provide medical supervision for illicit drug injections. We aimed to examine factors associated with syringe sharing in a community-recruited cohort of illicit injection drug users in a setting where such a facility had recently opened. Between Dec 1, 2003, and June 1, 2004, of 431 active injection drug users 49 (11.4%, 95% CI 8.5-14.3) reported syringe sharing in the past 6 months. In logistic regression analyses, use of the facility was independently associated with reduced syringe sharing (adjusted odds ratio 0.30, 0.11-0.82, p=0.02) after adjustment for relevant sociodemographic and drug-use characteristics. These findings could help inform discussions about the merits of such facilities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood-Borne Pathogens
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Needle-Exchange Programs*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders*
  • Public Facilities*
  • Risk-Taking
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous*