NCJ Number
171807
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1996) Pages: 865-881
Date Published
1996
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Seventeen focus groups conducted in eight cities in 1993 collected information on the attitudes of injection drug users (IDUs) toward adopting the provisional guidelines issued by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Centers for Disease Control for the bleach disinfection of needles and syringes.
Abstract
Active IDUs expressed willingness to adopt most of the new recommendations. They regarded agitation of the syringe and the use of full-strength bleach as acceptable. They also considered pre-bleach water rinse, complete filling of the needles and syringes, post-bleach-rinsing with fresh water, and longer bleach contact times were possible under favorable injection conditions. However, cleaning both before and after injection and disassembling the needles and syringes for cleaning were unlikely to be adopted. Participants noted multiple barriers to the consistent use of bleach. IDUs were willing to attempt to follow the new guidelines, but reported that many circumstances interfere with adequate bleach disinfection. Findings indicated that the cleaning of needles and syringes with bleach should be considered as only one aspect of HIV prevention. In addition, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Commission on AIDS, increased efforts to abolish legal restrictions on the purchase and possession of needles and syringes should occur, and IDUs who continue to inject drugs need increased access to adequate numbers of sterile syringes to avoid exposure to HIV. Table, notes, and 44 references (Author abstract modified)