Open AccessDeterminants of needle sharing among intravenous drug users.
Author(s) -
Stephen Magura,
Joel I. Grossman,
Douglas S. Lipton,
Qudsia Siddiqi,
Janet L. Shapiro,
Ira J. Marion,
Kenneth R. Amann
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.79.4.459
Subject(s) - fatalism , needle sharing , methadone maintenance , medicine , peer group , drug , business , environmental health , methadone , family medicine , medical emergency , internet privacy , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychiatry , social psychology , computer science , philosophy , theology , syphilis , condom
Data from 110 IV-drug abusing persons in methadone maintenance were analyzed to determine the correlates of needle sharing. Sharing was directly related to peer group behavior, attitudes conducive to sharing, economic motivation to share, not owning injection equipment, and fatalism about developing AIDS. Sharers were aware of their AIDS risk. Indicated measures to reduce needle sharing would be positive peer support groups to help resist pressures to share, legal and free access to fresh injection equipment, education on the utility of risk reduction, and increased treatment options for IV cocaine users.