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The Context of HIV Risk Among Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners

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Even in areas with low seroprevalence rates, needle sharing can be<br />

common (Metzger et al. 1991). It is, however, by no means a universal<br />

practice <strong>of</strong> IDUs. Not all IDUs share needles, <strong>and</strong> some IDUs have<br />

begun to seek new needles (Guydish et al. 1990). Nevertheless, it may be<br />

possible to identify those variables that increase the risk <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong> through<br />

injection behaviors.<br />

Many studies have described the situational nature <strong>of</strong> needle sharing. An<br />

addict who has the drugs <strong>and</strong> his or her own outfit will not share. Needle<br />

sharing is related to the supply <strong>of</strong> needles available. Many studies have<br />

reported that the availability <strong>of</strong> needles <strong>and</strong> the problems associated with<br />

procuring them play a major role in needle sharing (Murphy 1987;<br />

Murphy <strong>and</strong> Waldorf 1991; Power et al. 1988; Waldorf <strong>and</strong> Murphy<br />

1989; Watters 1988). Qualitative work has pointed to the issue <strong>of</strong><br />

availability <strong>of</strong> clean needles as the main factor for needle sharing. It will<br />

be interesting to determine the impact <strong>of</strong> needle exchange programs on<br />

needle sharing.<br />

Dolan <strong>and</strong> colleagues (1987) have identified several variables that<br />

discriminated needle sharing among drug abusers admitted to a 30-day<br />

inpatient drug treatment program. Compared with other injecting drug<br />

abusers, needle sharers were more likely to engage in polydrug use, were<br />

more likely to use a shooting gallery, <strong>and</strong> had higher scores on a drug use<br />

severity test. No demographic or personality variables, such as age, race,<br />

education, or any <strong>of</strong> the 24 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory<br />

(MMPI) scores, discriminated needle sharers from nonsharers. Guydish<br />

<strong>and</strong> colleagues (1990) have found that needle sharing is predicted by<br />

earlier time <strong>of</strong> admission to drug treatment, cocaine use, <strong>and</strong> being<br />

younger in age. This is supported by a study performed by Kleinman <strong>and</strong><br />

colleagues (1990), who report that new drug users (persons who had been<br />

using drugs for only 1 or 2 years) are significantly less likely than others<br />

to practice risk-reduction measures <strong>and</strong> are less likely to have salient<br />

knowledge about AIDS transmission.<br />

Magura <strong>and</strong> colleagues (1989) reported that needle sharing is related to<br />

peers’ injecting drug use, economic motivation to share, not owning<br />

injection equipment, <strong>and</strong> fatalism about developing AIDS. Factors that<br />

did not predict needle sharing are also <strong>of</strong> interest. Knowledge <strong>of</strong> AIDS<br />

risks, knowing someone with AIDS, gender, age, ethnicity, marital status,<br />

<strong>and</strong> time in methadone treatment were not associated with sharing. In<br />

this sample, in which knowledge <strong>of</strong> AIDS risks was high, needle sharing<br />

could not be attributed to ignorance about the consequences <strong>of</strong> such<br />

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