Drug-related arrest rates and spatial access to syringe exchange programs in New York City health districts: Combined effects on the risk of injection-related infections among injectors

Hannah L.F. Cooper, Don C. Des Jarlais, Barbara Tempalski, Brian H. Bossak, Zev Ross, Samuel R. Friedman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Drug-related law enforcement activities may undermine the protective effects of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) on local injectors' risk of injection-related infections. We explored the spatial overlap of drug-related arrest rates and access to SEPs over time (1995-2006) in New York City health districts, and used multilevel models to investigate the relationship of these two district-level exposures to the odds of injecting with an unsterile syringe. Districts with better SEP access had higher arrest rates, and arrest rates undermined SEPs' protective relationship with unsterile injecting. Drug-related enforcement strategies targeting drug users should be de-emphasized in areas surrounding SEPs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)218-228
Number of pages11
JournalHealth and Place
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

Keywords

  • Drug-related law enforcement
  • Geospatial analyses
  • HIV
  • Harm reduction
  • Injection drug use
  • Syringe exchange programs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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