Ml. Laurie et Kl. Green, Health risks and opportunities for harm reduction among injection-drug-using clients of Saskatoon's needle exchange program, CAN J PUBL, 91(5), 2000, pp. 350-352
Citations number
7
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE
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.