Indirect sharing risks are relatively frequent occurrences among the majority of injection drug users (IDU) in Denver. In our cohort of 234 networks there was at least one member who, when asked to describe their last injection episode, reported dividing the drug as a liquid (61%), sharing a reservoir of rinse water (50%), using a common drug mixing container (cooker) (67%) and beating a shared cotton filter (36%). In contrast, only 14% reported having shared syringes. The following were statistically significant variables associated with various injection practices: location of injection episode, quantity of drug, dopesickness, chipping in money and providing the drug. When compared to those who injected in a safe setting, those who injected in an unsafe location were more than twice as likely to be a part of an injection episode where there was cooker sharing (OR=2.48 , p < 0.0001); and the smaller the quantity of heroin(< _ gram vs > _ gram) present at the last injection episode, the more likely cooker sharing occurred (OR=1.8, p=0.002). Individuals were more likely to beat cottons if they chipped in money (OR=2.02, p=0.039), provided the drug (OR=3.82, p=0.008) or were dopesick (OR=1.86 p=0.004). This analysis suggests that because these risks are such an integral part of the injection process they may be difficult to change. Addressing them requires the combined expertise of both interventionists and they IDU they serve.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize drug injection as a behavioral process. 2) Identify four indirect sharing risks within this process. 3) Identify five contextual factors that influence the likelihood that these practices will occur. 4) Apply these findings to the finetuning of interventions aimed at reducing injection risks among IDU networks
Keywords: Drug Injectors, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Urban Links, University of Colorado at Denver
National Institute for Drug Abuse
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.