A sample of 301 regular amphetamine users was interviewed regarding transitions between routes of administration of amphetamines. Use of amphetamines by injecting was widespread, with two-thirds (67%) of subjects having injected the drug during the preceding 6 months. Needle-sharing was common, with 41% of injectors having shared a needle in the month preceding interview. A transition to regular amphetamine injecting from other routes of administration was reported by 40% of subjects, with males being twice as likely to report such a transition. The median number of such transitions was one. The main reasons given by subjects for the transition to injecting were liking the "rush" from injecting, and seeing it as a more economical and a healthier way to use. A small proportion of subjects (9%) reported a transition away from injecting amphetamines, with a median of one such transition. The most common reason given for abandoning injecting was concern about vascular damage. Interventions to encourage safer use of amphetamines need to address the misconceptions that injecting is more economical and more healthy, and to emphasize the vascular problems associated with injecting.

The SEER-CAHPS data resources allows assessment of factors influencing experience of cancer among U.S. cancer survivors. Higher self-reported health status was associated with better experiences of care; other survivors' characteristics also predicted care experience. Interventions to improve cancer survivors' health status, such as increased access to supportive care services, may improve experience of care.

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The SEHC appears to measure a single general job satisfaction construct. The scale has adequate reliability and validity to recommend its use to assess satisfaction among multidisciplinary, U.S. healthcare staff. Our findings suggest that this survey is a good candidate for reduction to a short-form, and future research should validate this survey in other healthcare populations.

The relationship between benzodiazepine and regular amphetamine use was examined in a sample of 301 regular amphetamine users. Benzodiazepine use was widespread, with 37% of subjects having used them in the month preceding interview, and 55% in the preceding 6 months. Injectors of amphetamines were more likely to have ever used, and to be currently using, benzodiazepines. Comparisons of benzodiazepine users with other subjects indicated that benzodiazepine users had higher levels of polydrug use and psychopathology, as well as poorer health and social functioning than non-users. The odds of benzodiazepine using injectors having injected with a borrowed used needle in the preceding month were 3.8 times of those of non-benzodiazepine-using injectors. These results are consistent with studies of other groups of illicit drug users, such as heroin users, in indicating that benzodiazepine use is associated with greater levels of risk and psycho-social dysfunction.