Evaluation of Needle Exchange Using Street-Based Survey Methods

Abstract

This paper describes the demographic and drug use characteristics, and levels of HIV-related risk behavior, for a sample of injection drug users (N=50) participating in the San Francisco needle exchange program. Exchange patrons were recruited as they approached the street-based exchange program, and were interviewed immediately to minimize drop-out. Clients reported high levels of satisfaction with exchange services, and many reported decreasing HIV risk behavior since participating in the exchange. Regular participation in the exchange was associated with lower levels of HIV risk behavior, but number of months since first visiting the exchange was not. Participation in needle exchange may negatively impact drug use behavior for a small minority of clients, and this issue warrants further study.

Evidence for the effectiveness of sterile injecting equipment provision in preventing hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus transmission among injecting drug users: a review of reviews

“…Wodak & Cooney identified 28 primary studies of IRB (needle/syringe borrowing, lending or re‐use); among these, there were 24 positive [41–43,45,50,54–56,60,61,64–77], one negative [51], one indeterminate result [78] and two showing no association [48,79]. [Wodak & Cooney cited 29 studies, but one of these (Gibson, D. R. & Flynn, N. M. (2001) AIDS Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco), is not a primary research study.]…”

“…The 23 studies [48,50,51,54–56,60,61,64–67,69–71,74–79] identified by Gibson et al. were covered by the other two core reviews, with the exception of Broadhead et al.…”

Injection Risk Behavior among Women Syringe Exchangers in San Francisco

“…Questions were based on variables used in prior studies of SEP participants in San Francisco (Guydish et al, 1998;Guydish et al, 1995) with additional variables of interest submitted by an all-female community advisory board. The survey was pre-tested with 5 female IDU using the study procedures described above.…”

Beyond Needle Sharing: Meta-Analyses of Social Context Risk Behaviors of Injection Drug Users Attending Needle Exchange Programs

“…Twelve investigations were initiated elsewhere, including Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Nepal, Russia, and Puerto Rico. The 31 studies had a total, cumulative N of 52,678, ranging from 49 (Guydish and Clark, 1995) to 35,460 (Hagan et al, 1991). Discounting the latter, mean number of subjects per study was 574.…”