Injection Drug Users' Practices and Attitudes Toward Intervention and Potential for Reducing the Transmission of HIV
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1997
Keywords
Hiv prevention, Injecting practices, Injection drug user, Needle excliange, Shooting gallery
Abstract
Miami is one of the major centers of illegal drug activity and has a significant proportion of AIDS cases among injection drug users (IDUs). Since Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) are illegal and therefore do not exist in the state of Florida, other strategies must play a large role in reducing the transmission of HFV among IDUs. In order to effectively communicate with IDUs about needle safety, it is necessary to understand the practices and culture of IDUs, including where and how the needle/syringes are obtained and used. Data from recent studies conducted hi Miami and other local sites indicate that IDUs inject frequently, averaging more than 1,000 per year, per person. While the vast majority of IDUs feel it is very important to clean needles and to use a needle only one time, these sentiments are not always practiced. Furthermore, data indicate that the context where shooting takes place must be considered in the planning of HIV risk reduction interventions. These findings suggest the importance of understanding patterns of drug use, attitudes toward intervention, and the cultural context where risky behaviors occur. Although Needle Exchange Programs are illegal in Florida, intervention programs must still stress the importance of using only new needles, but since new needles cannot always be obtained, IDUs should be taught and motivated not to use contaminated drug paraphernalia. © 1997 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) Amsterdam B.V. Published under license under the Gordon and Breach Publishers imprint.
Journal Title
Medical Anthropology: Cross Cultural Studies in Health and Illness
Volume
18
Issue
1
First Page
35
Last Page
60
DOI
10.1080/01459740.1997.9966149
First Department
Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
McCoy, Clyde B.; Metsch, Lisa R.; Bryan Page, J.; McBride, Duane C.; and Comerford, Samuel T., "Injection Drug Users' Practices and Attitudes Toward Intervention and Potential for Reducing the Transmission of HIV" (1997). Faculty Publications. 2610.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pubs/2610