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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
5029.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 8:48 AM

Abstract #100882

Motivation and change in syringe exchange program participants

Jonathan Freedlander, BA, Experimental Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252, 410-889-4109, jfreed1@umbc.edu

Substance abuse and addiction pose serious public health problems in the United States and across the world. The transtheoretical model of behavior change proposes to explain how people are able to successfully change unhealthy behaviors. There is a large amount of evidence to support the application of the transtheoretical model to modification of problem drinking and smoking; however, more research is needed on how it would apply to poly-substance use, and to intravenous use in particular. Intravenous drug use is typically associated with significantly increased risk compared with other methods of administration, and can be more challenging to treat. In order to address the increased risks associated with injection drug use (IDU), most notably HIV and hepatitis transmission, syringe exchange programs (SEPs) have been developed. In addition to providing sterile injection equipment to IDUs and other services, SEPs may act as a bridge to services for hard to reach populations.

Learning Objectives:

  • This presentation will convey

    Keywords: Injecting Drug Use, Syringe Exchange

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:

    I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

    Policy Issues in Substance Abuse Treatment

    The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA