Impact of Increased Legal Access to Needles and Syringes on Practices of Injecting-Drug Users and Police Officers???Connecticut, 1992???1993

Groseclose, Samuel L.; Weinstein, Beth; Jones, T. Stephen; Valleroy, Linda A.; Fehrs, Laura J.; Kassler, William

doi:10.1097/00042560-199509000-00012

Cited by 149 publications

(67 citation statements)

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“…Laws prohibiting pharmacy sales of sterile syringes have been associated with syringe sharing [4], as have legal restrictions on syringe exchange programs [5]. In contrast, legalizing non-prescription syringe sales at pharmacies has been associated with decreases in syringe sharing [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico–US border cities

Pollini

Brouwer

Lozada³

et al. 2007

Addiction

121

113

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Aims To identify factors associated with receptive syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) and elucidate the association between syringe possession arrests and syringe sharing.Design Cross‐sectional study.Setting Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Baja California and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.Participants IDUs in Tijuana (n = 222) and Ciudad Juarez (n = 206) were recruited using respondent‐driven sampling (RDS). IDUs were ≥ 18 years and had injected illicit drugs in the past month.Measurements An interviewer‐administered survey was used to collect quantitative data on socio‐demographic, behavioral and contextual characteristics, including self‐reported syringe sharing and arrests for syringe possession. Associations with receptive syringe sharing were investigated using logistic regression with RDS adjustment.Findings Overall, 48% of participants reported ever being arrested for carrying an unused/sterile syringe, even though syringe purchase and possession is legal in Mexico. Arrest for possessing unused/sterile syringes was associated independently with receptive syringe sharing [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 3.35], as was injecting in a shooting gallery (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI: 2.21, 5.87), injecting in the street (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.54) and injecting methamphetamine (AOR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.41, 5.47) or cocaine (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.36). More than half of participants (57%) had been arrested for possessing a used syringe; in a second model, arrest for used syringe possession was also associated independently with receptive sharing (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.76, 4.69).Conclusions We documented high levels of syringe‐related arrests in two Mexican–US border cities and an independent association between these arrests and risky injection practices. Public health collaborations with law enforcement to modify the risk environment in which drug use occurs are essential to facilitate safer injection practices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico–US border cities

Pollini

Brouwer

Lozada³

et al. 2007

Addiction

121

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…After Connecticut legalized OTC sales of syringes and the personal possession of syringes, syringe sharing by drug injectors decreased. 6 Moreover, no evidence showed increases in drug use, drug-related arrests, or needlestick injuries to police officers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 In most of these jurisdictions, selling syringes without prescriptions remains illegal (although the laws have been repealed or relaxed in Connecticut, Maine, and New York). It has been argued that anti-OTC laws increase the extent to which IDUs share syringes and perhaps other paraphernalia [5][6][7][8][9] and thus increase HIV transmission. AIDS rates among IDUs have been shown to be higher in states with anti-OTC laws.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Laws prohibiting over-the-counter syringe sales to injection drug users: relations to population density, HIV prevalence, and HIV incidence

Friedman

Perlis

Jarlais³

2001

Am J Public Health

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OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess relations of laws prohibiting over-the-counter syringe sales (anti-OTC laws) to population prevalence of injection drug users and HIV prevalence or incidence among 96 US metropolitan areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was used. RESULTS: Metropolitan areas with anti-OTC laws had a higher mean HIV prevalence (13.8% vs 6.7%) than other metropolitan areas (pseudo-P < .001). In 83 metropolitan areas with HIV prevalence of less than 20%, anti-OTC laws were associated with HIV incidence rates of 1% or greater (pseudo-P < .001). Population proportions of injection drug users did not vary by presence of anti-OTC laws. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-OTC laws are not associated with lower population proportions of injection drug users. Laws restricting syringe access are associated with HIV transmission and should be repealed.

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“…8,11,14 IDUs in many locations perceive pharmacies as stable, safe and affordable sources of sterile syringes. 15,16 In states where legislation has permitted the statewide sale of OTC syringes, 7,17,18 a large percentage of pharmacists have agreed to sell syringes, 19,20 and some have run syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in their stores. 21 In 1993, 83% of pharmacies were found to sell OTC syringes within the five largest cities of Connecticut.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the same time period, IDUs reported that their syringe purchases from pharmacies rose from 19 to 78%. 19 In other locations, however, relatively low proportions of IDUs relied on pharmacies for syringes initially, directly after pharmacy access legislation changed, 9 yet, over time, more IDUs have begun to rely on pharmacies as a primary source of sterile syringes. 10 Pharmacists_ attitudes and beliefs, however, vary considerably and are, at times, detrimental to adequate provision of sterile syringes 7,8,[22][23][24] and can lead to decreases in OTC sales.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Syringe Access and HIV Prevention in California: Findings from a Survey of Local Health Jurisdiction Key Personnel

Stopka

Garfein²,

Ross³

et al. 2006

J Urban Health

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Impact of Increased Legal Access to Needles and Syringes on Practices of Injecting-Drug Users and Police Officers???Connecticut, 1992???1993

Cited by 149 publications

References 0 publications

Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico–US border cities

Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico–US border cities

Laws prohibiting over-the-counter syringe sales to injection drug users: relations to population density, HIV prevalence, and HIV incidence

Increasing Syringe Access and HIV Prevention in California: Findings from a Survey of Local Health Jurisdiction Key Personnel

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