The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44461

Jonny Andia, PhD¹, Sherry Deren, PhD¹, Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD¹, Hector M. Colon, PhD², Rafaela Robles, EdD³, Denise Oliver-Velez, PhDc⁴, and Ann H. Finlinson, PhD⁵. (1) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4580, jonny.andia@NDRI.org, (2) Center for Addiction Studies, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (3) Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (4) ARIBBA Project, National Development and Research Institutes, 16 Schoonmaker Lane, Stone Ridge, NY 12484, (5) Universidad Central del Caribe, Center for Addiction Studies, P.O. Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032

Objectives: To identify factors related to injecting drugs while incarcerated, among Puerto Rican drug users who reported ever injected in their lives. Methods: Street-recruited drug users were interviewed in Bayamon, PR (n=242) and East Harlem, NY (n=555). Multiple logistic regression was conducted separately by site to predict injection during last incarceration episode. Predictor variables included: gender, age, HS graduate, ever in drug treatment in jail/prison, gang member/Ņetas, gang member/Latin Kings, # times incarcerated-lifetime and # of months incarcerated-lifetime. Results: A higher proportion of the NY sample reported ever being incarcerated than their PR counterparts (90% vs. 76% p<.001) and a higher percentage of the NY sample reported ever been in drug treatment while incarcerated (60% vs. 33% p<.001). During the last incarceration episode, more injection behavior was reported in PR than in NY while incarcerated (31% vs. 12% p<.001). 70% of Island PR vs 27% of the NY sample reported being members of Ņetas (p<.001). In the final regression model, for the sample in NY, being a member of Ņetas and lifetime number of months incarcerated were predictors of injecting drugs. For PR, ever drug treatment in jail/prison, member of Ņetas and lifetime number of months incarcerated were predictors for injecting drugs. Conclusions: Interventions for incarcerated injection drug users that include harm reduction procedures and enhancing drug treatment for inmates (especially in PR) should be developed. Further research on the role of gangs in influencing inmate HIV risk behaviors should be undertaken.

Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• List factors related to injection drugs while incarcerated
• Recognize the high levels of incarceration among Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico
• Identify interventions for incarcerated injection drug users that include harm reduction procedures in New York and Puerto Rico

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.