THE JELLING-UP OF DOPE - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV AMONG IDUS

A combination of survey and ethnographic research was used to investig ate what injectors have labeled as the ''jelling-up'' of their heroin: insolubility leading to the clogging of needles/syringes. A total of 856 interviews, were conducted in two inner-city Chicago communities. Three separate samples were drawn from heroin injectors over a period of 18 months. In each sample, 85% (n = 39), 72% (n = 417) and 81% (n = 400) of the respondents reported that their heroin clogged their need les/syringes. In each of these respective samples, 55%, 28%, and 19% o f the respondents reported that they had shared needles/syringes with others because their ''works'' had clogged. The paper explores the con ditions under which inappropriate diluent/adulterants are used in the ''cutting'' of heroin. A complex of factors helps explain the use of i mproper cuts; these include: oligopolistic market conditions engendere d by gangs, ignorance of the proper diluents/adulterants, and the crea tion of dual markets (intranasal and injecting) for heroin.