Who uses needle exchange? A study of injection drug users in treatment in San Francisco, 1989-1990

摘要: We examined use of the San Francisco needle exchange program (NEP) by 1093 injection drug users (IDUs) recruited in methadone maintenance and out-patient detoxification programs first 2 years after opening NEP 1988. Thirty-one percent IDUs had ever used NEP. who were frequent injectors, homeless, aware their serostatus more likely to To assess self-selection at risk for seroconversion using exchange, we calculated pre-needle rates. Among 385 seen twice, HIV rate was 0.38% per person year among subjects never but it 9.34% those later (p = 0.003). attracted a subset very high infection. injectors interviewed before exchanges Francisco, number sharing partners did not change attended or The very-high-risk subgroup IDUs, as measured behavior HIV-seroconversion rate. NEPs should be considered prime sites behavior-change interventions.