Myers M, Nemeth-Coslett R, Snyder F, Young P; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23; 6: 274 (abstract no. S.C.743).

NOVA Research Company, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the need for intervention to affect needle cleaning practices to reduce the risk of becoming infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus. METHODS: This report reflects responses to 15,000+ interviews with intravenous drug users (IVDUs) who are not in a drug treatment program. The data were obtained from an interviewer-administered questionnaire developed by participants in the National AIDS Demonstration Research Project sponsored by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of IVDUs indicated they know that cleaning needles with bleach is an effective way of killing the AIDS virus. Despite this knowledge, only 11% reported always cleaning their needles with bleach before injecting drugs. An additional 6% reported always cleaning with alcohol and 1% indicated cleaning with boiling water. These taken collectively (17%), plus those who always inject with new needles (20%), imply that 63% of IVDUs are involved in drug injecting practices that put them at high risk for HIV infection. This report explores variation in safe needle practice with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, and region taking into account other factors such as frequency of injection and place of injection which are potential determinants. CONCLUSIONS: Other researchers have reported that methods beyond educational approaches must be sought to bring about changes in risk-taking behavior, especially in the illicit drug injecting setting. Safe injecting practices are currently used by a minority of IVDUs.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• HIV Infections
• HIV-1
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Needle Sharing
• Needles
• Street Drugs
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Substance-Related Disorders
• United States
• methods
• organization & administration
• therapy

Other ID:

• 30074390

UI: 102196585

From Meeting Abstracts