The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71059

Stephen E. Lankenau, PhD¹, Michael Clatts, PhD², Michael Clatts, PhD², and Michael Clatts, PhD². (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 9th floor, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-5736, sl2056@columbia.edu, (2) Institute for Research on Youth at Risk, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10010

Initiation into injection drug use is a significant event since it marks a new course towards increased risk of exposure to HIV and other bloodborne pathogens. Young injection drug users (IDUs) are an important subpopulation of initiates since prior research indicates higher rates of HIV risk behavior among this group compared to long-term and older IDUs. Injection practices learned during initiation - both risky and protective - are a significant area of study since these practices frequently become integrated into future injection drug using events. While most research on young IDUs focuses on "street drugs," such as cocaine and heroin, new research indicates that "club drugs," such as ketamine, are being injected and present a range of risks for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Most prior reserch on ketamine, a schedule III anesthetic that has become a popular recreational drug among youth, has presumed an intranasal mode of administration. In this study, ethnographic methods were used to recruit a sample of 40 young ketamine injectors from street settings in New York City. We compare the first injection of ketamine and the most recent injection of ketamine within a population of high risk youth. In particular, we focus on the following injection practices and concerns that occurred during two injection events: source of syringe, drug form, mode of administration, number of injections, and sharing behaviors. Preliminary findings indicate that both risk and protective behaviors occurring during the first injection of ketamine, such as sharing paraphernalia and self-injecting, were also deployed during the most recent injection of ketamine.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
• identify risk practices among youth who inject ketamine;
• develop new ways of understanding club drug use.

Keywords: Drug Injectors, HIV Risk Behavior

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.