Heroin Sniffing as Self-Regulation among Injecting and Non-Injecting Heroin Users

Abstract

This paper examines sniffing as a mode of administration among three subgroups who sniff heroin: those who had never injected. those who were also injecting. and those who had ceased injection. Modified life-history interviews were conducted in 1994 with 26 people currently sniffing but not injecting, recruited in street-based settings in conjunction with an ongoing study of risk behavior and seroprevalence among drug injectors. These were supplemented by survey interviews and brief open-ended interviews with 23 people who combined heroin injecting with heroin sniffing, recruited from a parallel component of the ongoing study, based at a hospital detoxification ward. Not merely a brief precursor to heroin injecting, heroin sniffing can continue for long periods, and persist during and after periods of injection. Each subgroup uses heroin sniffing to regulate different perceived risks: heroin tolerance and financial expenditure (among those who have never injected). situational risks (among current injectors), and personal crises (among former injectors). These findings suggest the importance of personal factors over syringe availability or fear of HIV in use of modes of heroin administration.

Drug Injection Among Street Youths in Montreal: Predictors of Initiation

“…32 However, other studies have suggested that the level of social integration of drug users in society may influence their likelihood of injecting drugs. 45,46 Our finding supports this observation.…”

“…Although a first episode of drug injection does not necessarily mean that injection will become a regular route of drug administration, 7,18,45 initiation to injection is of major concern. Previous studies have suggested the existence of a hierarchy of dependence, with the greatest risk being associated with injecting, and that once a transition has been made to injecting, it tends to be maintained.…”

“…12 Others may inject because it is the most prevalent route of administration in their area for the drug they want to try or because they perceive that it is the best route given the quality and purity of the drug available in the local market. 10,12,45,[49][50][51][52][53] In fact, the drug market and other socioenvironmental determinants have been shown to influence drug use patterns among youths. 54 Finally, youths might simply try injection out of curiosity about a drug or the ritual and paraphernalia involved.…”

Risk Factors Associated with the Transition with Transition to Heroin Injection: A Street Addict Role Perspective

“…Existing research supports the argument that knowledge of and attitudes toward injection and the risk of AIDS are related to the transition to injection. 26,27 Hypothesis 3: Feature a higher degree of social marginalization from basic social institutions as measured by residential stability, educational achievement, and marital status. Social integration into or marginalization from major institutions of a society, such as housing, education, and family, may influence whether transition to injection occurs.…”

Potential Risk Factors for Injecting Among Mexican American Non-Injecting Heroin Users

“…This same research has also identified having drug and sexual networks that include injectors as factors associated with transitioning. Furthermore, individual susceptibility such as personal traumatic events, fear of HIV/AIDS, not being afraid of needles and attitudes about injectors have been identified as important risks for making a transition (Bravo, Barrio, & de la Fuente, 2003;Casriel, Des Jarlais, Rodriguez, Friedman, & Khurl, 1990;Neaigus, Atillasoy, & Friedman, 1998;Sotheran, Goldsmith, Blasco, & Friedman, 1999).…”