Correlates of risky injection practices among past-year injection drug users among the US general population

Abstract

Background-With an estimated 1 million active injection drug users (IDUs), injection drug use continues to be a public health concern in the United States. Risky injection practices have been associated with the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, as well as other skin and soft tissue infections.Methods-We used data from 463 respondents, aged 18 and older, who were past-year IDUs in the 2005-2008 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We investigated correlates of risky injection behavior among these recent IDUs. Correspondence to: Lauren R. Ropelewski, lropelew@jhsph.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access

The effects of oral d-amphetamine on impulsivity in smoked and intranasal cocaine users

“…The current study is one of a few studies to examine the effects of oral AMPH in cocaine users, which is a group that remains prevalent (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013; Johnston et al, 2014; SAMHSA, 2014a), is likely to engage in other risky behaviors (e.g., Lim et al, 2011; Ropelewski et al, 2011) and for which HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are also pervasive (e.g., Hagan et al, 2011; Kuo et al, 2011; Pagano et al, 2015). Importantly, this study is the only one we are aware of that examined the effects of AMPH on a range of measures as a function of preferred route of cocaine use.…”

Examining the link between psychological distress, mental health disorders and sharing behaviors among cocaine users

“…Cocaine use in particular plays a central role in the spread of HIV and HCV infections, partly due to its association with high risk consumption patterns. When compared to other PWID, those who regularly use smoked or injected cocaine were found to engage in more risky injection practices and to have increased likelihood of HIV and HCV seroconversion (Bruneau, Roy, Arruda, Zang, & Jutras-Aswad, 2012;DeBeck et al, 2009;Golub et al, 2005;Havens, Oser, & Leukefeld, 2011;Ropelewski, Mancha, Hulbert, Rudolph, & Martins, 2011;Tyndall et al, 2003).…”

An historical review of racial bias in prison-based substance abuse treatment design

“…From 2002 to 2015 there was a 2.8-fold increase in the estimated total number of deaths attributed to opioid overdose (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2017). The indirect risks to health and safety include epigenetic endocrine, metabolic, and cognitive abnormalities (Nestler, 2014), as well as the cultivation of a chaotic lifestyle often culminating in criminal justice system involvement (Ropelewski, Mancha, Hulbert, Rudolph, & Martins, 2011).…”