Clarke RT, Reich R, Abate E; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).
Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no. TP-016.
Clark County Health District, Office of AIDS, Las Vegas, NV
ISSUE: A study of persons living in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a self-identified history of intravenous drug usage, was conducted by the Clark County Health District (CCHD) in order to: (1) gain valuable information about a difficult to access and understudied population and (2) to determine if there is a need for a Clean Needle Exchange Program (CNEP), and whether or not the Las Vegas intravenous drug user (IDU) would utilizing a CNEP.SETTING: The Clark County Jail, a Las Vegas Methadone Clinic, and some Clark County Outreach Team's (CCOT) HIV testing sites. PROJECT: January 2001 through December 2001, descriptive and demographic data was gathered via survey format from known IDUs having medical interactions with CCHD, or CCOT. Respondents were voluntary participants requesting an HIV Test and self identifying a history as an IDU. The survey consisted of sixteen items incorporating five components: (1) individual demographics, (2) primary and secondary drug use, (3) frequency of drug use, (4) needle use behaviors including would the respondent utilize a needle exchange program, and (5) consumer believed drug infestation areas. 267 valid Injection Drug Surveys were gathered. Raw data from the surveys was given to Paul D. Shapiro, Ph.D., University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Department of Sociology to be analyzed, and statistically reported. Paul D. Shapiro, Ph.D., produced the final report on February 7, 2002.RESULTS: The majority of respondents were male, 63.7%, while 36.3% were female. 77.1% were White, 12.4% were Black, 8.3% were Hispanic, and 2.3% were Other. The youngest age of first injection was 11; the oldest was 50, and the majority first injected at age 21 or younger. The majority of respondents identified one of three drugs as their primary drug of choice (PDC): Heroin 51.3%, Methamphetamine 34.5%, and Cocaine 7.5%. In all, 68.9% of respondents admitted to using more than just their PDC, 52.9% admitted to injecting daily, and Cocaine was the dominate secondary drug of choice at 46.1%. The majority, 61.1%, reported sharing their works some of the time, 12.1% reported sharing most of the time, and 26.8% reported never sharing. 54.6% reported always cleaned their works, 34.5% reported sometimes cleaned their works, 10.8% never cleaned their works, and 53.1% do not use a clean needle each time they inject. 94% of the respondents reported they would use a Clean Needle Exchange Program (CNEP) if it were available. Finally, the consumer believed highest intravenous drug use infestation areas were Downtown Las Vegas at 54.3%, North Las Vegas at 23.8% and the Southeast area of Las Vegas at 22%.LESSONS LEARNED: A large proportion of Las Vegas drug users inject their drugs. The study clearly shows a high percentage of Las Vegas IV drug users are engaging in the practice of a high-risk needle sharing behavior, and that 94% of all survey respondents reported they would use a CNEP if it were available. In conclusion, a CNEP would be an inexpensive way to remove a great many dirty and infected needles from the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Behavior
- Cocaine
- Data Collection
- Demography
- Drug Evaluation
- Female
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Heroin
- Male
- Needle Sharing
- Needle-Exchange Programs
- Needles
- Nevada
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous
- Substance-Related Disorders
Other ID:
UI: 102262123
From Meeting Abstracts