Potential risk factors for the transition to injecting among non‐injecting heroin users: a comparison of former injectors and never injectors

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.9668476.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-10T10:21:31Z
• Authors: Alan Neaigus; Maureen Miller; Samuel R. Friedman; Debra L. Hagen; Stephen J. Sifaneck; Gilbert Ildefonso; Don C. Des Jarlais
• Keywords: harm reduction; Outreach; Needle sharing; Odds; Cross-sectional study

Aims . To compare potential risk factors for the transition to injecting among non‐injecting heroin users (NIUs) with different histories. Design Cross‐sectional data from baseline structured interviews NIUs in a study on transitions injecting. Sample recruited by outreach or chain‐referral New York City (NYC), 1996‐1998. Setting Recruitment of sample and conducted NYC neighborhood where many drug reside and/or use drugs. Participants Of 575 NIUs, 67% had never injected; 16% injected one nine times (infrequent former injectors (IFI)); 18% 10 more (frequent (FFI)). Measurements Controlling age race/ethnicity, adjusted odds ratios were estimated multivariate logistic regression, differences means tested ANCOVA. Findings FFI (compared IFI) likely: be homeless; unemployed; long‐time users; younger at first use; not have initiated through non‐injected routes; afraid themselves needles; sniff IDUs; and, both men women separately, sex partners who IDUs. Both IFI twice as likely perceive that their friends thought it was "OK" inject Conclusions multiple individual network characteristics may increase Interventions prevent need ascertain NIUs' history address risks resuming use.