Factors Associated With Needle Exchange Use in East Harlem, New York City

• NCJ Number: 171803
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1996) Pages: 735-749
• Author(s): S Tortu; S Deren; M Beardsley; R Hamid
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): U01DA0782
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

Injection drug abusers who were self-reported users and nonusers of needle exchange programs were compared with respect to sociodemographic variables, risk behaviors related to HIV, and selected health variables.

Abstract

The participants were recruited from the streets of East Harlem, New York City. Their drug use was verified by urinalysis, and HIV testing was offered. Results indicated that being white and having been incarcerated were the sociodemographic variables most strongly associated with the use of needle exchange programs. In addition, compared to other groups, Puerto Rican individuals were most likely to be non-users of needle exchange programs. Moreover, needle exchange users did not differ significantly from non-users in reported injection risks, but users reported significantly less unprotected sex. Furthermore, health data indicated that almost 50 percent of those tested were HIV infected and that many had histories of sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis. Research recommendations, tables, and 32 references (Author abstract modified)