TRANSITIONS BETWEEN ROUTES OF BENZODIAZEPINE ADMINISTRATION AMONG HEROIN USERS IN SYDNEY

A sample of 312 heroin users were interviewed regarding their benzodia zepine use. The majority (94%) had used benzodiazepines, 72% in the 6 months prior to interview. Benzodiazepine injecting was common, with 2 8% of the sample having injected these drugs, 13% in the 6 months prec eding interview. Current benzodiazepine injectors showed greater polyd rug use, injection-related HIV risk-taking behaviour, criminal involve ment, psychological distress and injection-related health problems, as well as poorer general health, and an increased risk of having overdo sed than other users of benzodiazepines. Of those subjects who had inj ected benzodiazepines, 55% were no longer current benzodiazepine injec tors. Concern for general health emerged as the most common reason for having made a transition away from injecting, and for being likely to make such a transition.