Ca. Latkin et Vl. Forman, Patterns of needle acquisition and sociobehavioral correlates of needle exchange program attendance in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, J ACQ IMM D, 27(4), 2001, pp. 398-404
Objectives: This study examined factors associated with obtaining syringes
from a needle exchange program (NEP) and other safer sources in Baltimore.
Maryland, U.S.A.
Design and Methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was administered
to 741 current drug injectors recruited by snowball sampling techniques. A
brief open-ended interview was conducted on a subsample.
Results: Most (85%) participants obtained needles from street needle seller
s. Only 8% obtained their needles exclusively from safer sources (NEPs, pha
rmacies, hospitals, or patients with diabetes). Cocaine use was associated
with obtaining needles from the NEP but not from exclusively safer sources.
Obtaining needles from only safer sources was associated with being female
and less frequent needle sharing and shooting gallery attendance. Among HI
V-seropositive participants, those who were diagnosed before the year that
the NEP began were more likely to obtain needles from safer sources. Partic
ipants who sold needles reported that it was easy to make used needles appe
ar to be unused, and some admitted to selling used syringes as new.
Conclusions: Street needle sellers are an important source of needles for d
rug injectors, and few injectors appear able to determine whether these nee
dles are clean. Individual sealing of diabetic syringes may reduce the risk
of blood-borne infections by enabling both drug injectors and patients wit
h diabetes to better judge the sterility of the needles they purchase.