Injection drug users’ practices and attitudes toward intervention and potential for reducing the transmission of HIV

Abstract

Miami is one of the major centers of illegal drug activity and has a significant proportion of AIDS cases among injection drug users (IDUs). Since Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) are illegal and therefore do not exist in the state of Florida, other strategies must play a large role in reducing the transmission of HIV among IDUs. In order to effectively communicate with IDUs about needle safety, it is necessary to understand the practices and culture of IDUs, including where and how the needle/syringes are obtained and used. Data from recent studies conducted in Miami and other local sites indicate that IDUs inject frequently, averaging more than 1,000 per year, per person. While the vast majority of IDUs feel it is very important to clean needles and to use a needle only one time, these sentiments are not always practiced. Furthermore, data indicate that the context where shooting takes place must be considered in the planning of HIV risk reduction interventions. These findings suggest the importance of understanding patterns of drug use, attitudes toward intervention, and the cultural context where risky behaviors occur. Although Needle Exchange Programs are illegal in Florida, intervention programs must still stress the importance of using only new needles, but since new needles cannot always be obtained, IDUs should be taught and motivated not to use contaminated drug paraphernalia.

The emergent impact of syringe exchange programs on shooting galleries and injection behaviors in three ethnically diverse Chicago neighborhoods

“…Among injection drug users (IDUs) and their partners, transmission of the virus via needle sharing, heterosexual contact, or perinatal exposure now account for approximately one-third of all cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States (CDC 1998). HIV prevention research targeting IDUs has called attention to specific risk behaviors associated with injection practices (Des Jaríais et al 1986;Battjes et al 1994;Connors 1992Connors ,1994Clatts et al 1994;Koester and Hoffer 1994;Heimer et al 1998;McCoy et al 1997). Sharing contaminated drug injection equipment is the primary route of transmission for HIV among injectors.…”

The social geography of AIDS and hepatitis risk: qualitative approaches for assessing local differences in sterile-syringe access among injection drug users

“…Despite a number of field studies in recent years, 41 as McCoy et al 42 stress, we need to investigate local variation in "the potential populations [at risk] and their injection practices, patterns, and cultures." Socioenvironmental differences across regions and even across neighborhoods appear to be associated with behavior differences in drug injection practices and risk levels.…”

Frágeis deuses: profissionais da emergência entre os danos da violência e a recriação da vida

“…Ao contrário, os riscos e os comportamentos de risco são percebidos e negociados na rede de relações sociais. São, em última instância, fruto das interações sociais e é neste campo que as estratégias de prevenção deveriam atuar.Nesse sentido, na década de 90, houve reconhecimento, no meio científico e nas políticas de prevenção, da fundamental importância em se conhecer qualitativamente essas redes de relações e vivências que favoreceram os riscos e os "comportamentos de risco" (Power et al, 1996;McCoy et al, 1997). …”

“…Nesse sentido, na década de 90, houve reconhecimento, no meio científico e nas políticas de prevenção, da fundamental importância em se conhecer qualitativamente essas redes de relações e vivências que favoreceram os riscos e os "comportamentos de risco" (Power et al, 1996;McCoy et al, 1997).…”