Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors, Multiple and Specific Drug Use, and Needle-Sharing in Male Injection-Drug Users

Abstract

The authors studied the influences of multiple and specific drug use on needle-sharing in a cohort of male injection drug users (IDUs). Subjects were 294 male IDUs, 41% of whom were HIV-positive. Subjects were given individually administered interviews using questionnaires. The authors used logistic regression analysis and found a relationship between more frequent cocaine and heroin use and needle-sharing behavior. As the total number of drugs used increased, the risk of needle-sharing with both familiar people and strangers increased. This effect of the number of drugs used was modified by family protective factors. Heroin and cocaine use, and multiple-drug use, were identified as risk factors for needle-sharing behavior among male IDUs.