Health risks and opportunities for harm reduction among injection-drug-using clients of Saskatoon's needle exchange program

Information about injection drug users lifestyles is necessary to develop e ffective harm reduction strategies. One way to gather this information is t hrough needle exchange programs. In 1998, a convenience sample of 100 clien ts of Saskatoon's needle exchange service was interviewed about their injec tion and sexual practices. Ritalin and morphine were the most commonly injected drugs. Over half the p articipants (53%) reported having shared needles, usually with friends, rel atives, and partners. Slightly; more (62%) had shared injection equipment. Most participants had multiple sexual partners, especially the women, half of whom were sex trade workers. Condom use was higher with casual partners than with regular partners. While awareness about HN transmission was high, most participants considered their risk of infection to be below average. These finding are discussed in light of the insights they provide regarding both health risks and opportunities for harm reduction in the study popula tion.