CONTINUED RISKY INJECTION SUBSEQUENT TO SYRINGE EXCHANGE USE AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS IN NEW-YORK-CITY

Although the vast majority of injection drug users (IDUs) attending sy ringe exchange programs in New York City have stopped risky injection (injecting with syringes used by someone else), there remains a subgro up of IDUs who continue to engage in high-risk injecting behaviors des pite access to sterile syringes. Subjects were randomly recruited from five legally authorized syringe exchange programs in New York City be tween October 1992 and August 1994. Participants were asked about drug and sexual risk behavior 30 days prior to their first use of the syri nge exchange as well as during the 30-day period prior to the intervie w while using the exchange. Of the 2,465 participants, 77.4% reported no risky injection during the 30 days prior to using syringes exchange . :For this analysis we included only those who reported risky injecti on for the 30-day period prior to using syringe exchange (N = 556). We compared sociodemographics and behavioral characteristics of a group who continued risky injection while using the syringe exchange, ''cont inuers,'' N = 158 (28.8%) with a group who reported risky injection pr ior to using the exchange and then ceased risky injection while using the exchange, ''stoppers,'' N = 391 (71.2%). Continuers were significa ntly more likely to report passing on dirty syringes to social network members and to inject cocaine at least daily. We present other predic tors of continued risk and discuss the implications for interventions and make recommendations for syringe exchange programs.