Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico: Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods

H. Ann Finlinson; Denise Oliver-Vélez; Héctor M. Colón; Sherry Deren; Rafaela R. Robles; Mark Beardsley; John G H Cant; Jonny Andía; Mayra Soto López

doi:10.1023/A:1026498321919

Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico: Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods

H. Ann Finlinson, Denise Oliver-Vélez, Héctor M. Colón, Sherry Deren, Rafaela R. Robles, Mark Beardsley, John G H Cant, Jonny Andía, Mayra Soto López

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative data are used to compare alternative sources of syringes, including syringe exchange programs (SEPs), accessed by 165 Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) in East Harlem, New York (NY), and 115 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico (PR). IDUs in PR obtained, on average, 45.2% of their syringes from "syringe sellers," 18.0% from pharmacies, and 17.6% from a SEP. By contrast, IDUs in NY obtained 55.0% of their syringes from SEPs and 22.9% from "syringe sellers." Compared to their island counterparts, IDUs in NY received significantly more syringes from SEPs (NY, 104.5; PR, 9.2) in the prior 30 days, and were more likely to be referred by SEPs to drug treatment and HIV/TB-testing services. The results of this study suggest the need in Puerto Rico to eliminate restrictive syringe exchange policies, reform drug paraphernalia laws to protect SEP clients, and address police harassment related to carrying syringes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	341-351
Number of pages	11
Journal	AIDS and Behavior
Volume	4
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026498321919
State	Published - 2000

Keywords

AIDS
HIV
Injection drug use
New York
Puerto Rico
Syringe exchange program (SEP)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

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10.1023/A:1026498321919

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Finlinson, H. A., Oliver-Vélez, D., Colón, H. M., Deren, S., Robles, R. R., Beardsley, M., Cant, J. G. H., Andía, J., & López, M. S. (2000). Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico: Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods. AIDS and Behavior, 4(4), 341-351. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026498321919

Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico : Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods. / Finlinson, H. Ann; Oliver-Vélez, Denise; Colón, Héctor M. et al.

In: AIDS and Behavior, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2000, p. 341-351.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Finlinson, HA, Oliver-Vélez, D, Colón, HM, Deren, S, Robles, RR, Beardsley, M, Cant, JGH, Andía, J & López, MS 2000, 'Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico: Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods', AIDS and Behavior, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 341-351. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026498321919

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abstract = "Quantitative and qualitative data are used to compare alternative sources of syringes, including syringe exchange programs (SEPs), accessed by 165 Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) in East Harlem, New York (NY), and 115 in Bayam{\'o}n, Puerto Rico (PR). IDUs in PR obtained, on average, 45.2% of their syringes from {"}syringe sellers,{"} 18.0% from pharmacies, and 17.6% from a SEP. By contrast, IDUs in NY obtained 55.0% of their syringes from SEPs and 22.9% from {"}syringe sellers.{"} Compared to their island counterparts, IDUs in NY received significantly more syringes from SEPs (NY, 104.5; PR, 9.2) in the prior 30 days, and were more likely to be referred by SEPs to drug treatment and HIV/TB-testing services. The results of this study suggest the need in Puerto Rico to eliminate restrictive syringe exchange policies, reform drug paraphernalia laws to protect SEP clients, and address police harassment related to carrying syringes.",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to thank Clarisa Toledo for her assistance in the preparation of this paper. The present study was part of a larger study entitled {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Puerto Rican Drug Users in New York and Puerto Rico: HIV Risk Behavior Determinants{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant 1 RO1 DA10425).",

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AU - Oliver-Vélez, Denise

AU - Colón, Héctor M.

AU - Deren, Sherry

AU - Robles, Rafaela R.

AU - Beardsley, Mark

AU - Cant, John G H

AU - Andía, Jonny

AU - López, Mayra Soto

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to thank Clarisa Toledo for her assistance in the preparation of this paper. The present study was part of a larger study entitled ‘‘Puerto Rican Drug Users in New York and Puerto Rico: HIV Risk Behavior Determinants’’ funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant 1 RO1 DA10425).

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - Quantitative and qualitative data are used to compare alternative sources of syringes, including syringe exchange programs (SEPs), accessed by 165 Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) in East Harlem, New York (NY), and 115 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico (PR). IDUs in PR obtained, on average, 45.2% of their syringes from "syringe sellers," 18.0% from pharmacies, and 17.6% from a SEP. By contrast, IDUs in NY obtained 55.0% of their syringes from SEPs and 22.9% from "syringe sellers." Compared to their island counterparts, IDUs in NY received significantly more syringes from SEPs (NY, 104.5; PR, 9.2) in the prior 30 days, and were more likely to be referred by SEPs to drug treatment and HIV/TB-testing services. The results of this study suggest the need in Puerto Rico to eliminate restrictive syringe exchange policies, reform drug paraphernalia laws to protect SEP clients, and address police harassment related to carrying syringes.

AB - Quantitative and qualitative data are used to compare alternative sources of syringes, including syringe exchange programs (SEPs), accessed by 165 Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) in East Harlem, New York (NY), and 115 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico (PR). IDUs in PR obtained, on average, 45.2% of their syringes from "syringe sellers," 18.0% from pharmacies, and 17.6% from a SEP. By contrast, IDUs in NY obtained 55.0% of their syringes from SEPs and 22.9% from "syringe sellers." Compared to their island counterparts, IDUs in NY received significantly more syringes from SEPs (NY, 104.5; PR, 9.2) in the prior 30 days, and were more likely to be referred by SEPs to drug treatment and HIV/TB-testing services. The results of this study suggest the need in Puerto Rico to eliminate restrictive syringe exchange policies, reform drug paraphernalia laws to protect SEP clients, and address police harassment related to carrying syringes.

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Syringe acquisition and use of syringe exchange programs by Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico: Comparisons based on quantitative and qualitative methods

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Keywords

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