Medical complications of intravenous drug use

Stein, Michael D.

doi:10.1007/bf02600544

Cited by 82 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 135 publications

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“…Viruses have been detected on needles and syringes including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1][2][3][4][5][6], hepatitis B virus (HBV) [4,7] and hepatitis C virus (HCV) [4,7]. Injecting with used needles and syringes can also lead to other health complications, including tissue damage, skin abscesses and bacterial endocarditis [8][9][10][11][12]. In addition, it is worth noting that HIV has not been detected on visibly clean needles [2,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Injectors and the Cleaning of Needles and Syringes

2000

Eur Addict Res

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When people share needles and syringes they risk transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infections including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cleaning needles and syringes can help to reduce, although not eliminate, these risks. This article begins by engaging with some of the literature on the cleaning of needles and syringes. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with drug injectors in England, the article then goes on to explore drug injectors’ perceptions and experiences of cleaning needles and syringes inside and outside prison. The article concludes by highlighting the implications for future research and policy making. Ultimately there should be a stronger policy response to reduce the risks associated with sharing needles and syringes inside prison, which should include the piloting of prison needle and syringe exchange schemes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Injectors and the Cleaning of Needles and Syringes

2000

Eur Addict Res

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“…For example, in some settings, bacterial infections associated with unsafe injecting are the primary cause of emergency department visits among IDUs [3,50]. Several studies have reported higher rates of emergency room use for injection-related bacterial infections among IDUs who are HIV positive when compared with HIV-negative IDUs [50], and it has been suggested that this trend reflects heightened biologic susceptibility to bacterial infections resulting from compromised immunity [2,50].…”

Section: Reducing Morbiditymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Close to one third of all new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa are attributed to injection drug use, and in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the sharing of contaminated injecting equipment accounts for more than 80% of all new HIV infections [1]. Other costly infectious diseases that can be easily acquired from nonsterile injection practices, such as hepatitis C, and endocarditis and cellulitis are also common [2]. The health and care of IDUs is further compromised by avoidance and erratic use of primary care services and over-reliance on emergency departments [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of safer injection facilities in the response to HIV/AIDS among injection drug users

Kerr

Kimber²,

DeBeck³

et al. 2007

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep

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Many cities throughout the globe are experiencing ongoing infectious disease and overdose epidemics among injection drug users (IDUs). In particular, HIV has become endemic among IDUs in many settings. In an effort to reduce this and related public health concerns, medically supervised safer injecting facilities (SIFs), where IDUs can inject pre-obtained illicit drugs under the supervision of medical staff, have been established in several countries. The following review assesses the role that SIFs can play in reducing the harms associated with HIV infection among IDUs and points to ways in which SIFs can be further developed to better respond to the challenges associated with HIV/AIDS among this population.

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“…Besides this switching pattern, a number of drug users, especially young people, experience drugs with heroin or synthetic amphetamine injections from the beginning (5). Injection drug use is associated with a wide array of social and health perplexities (6,7). The marginalized population of people who inject illicit drugs are more likely to engage in high risk behaviors, as well as violent and criminal acts (1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…medical complications such as infections) ascribed to complications accrued from injections (10). Injection Drug Users are at an increased risk of transmitting bacterial infections due to unsafe injection practices, and these infections are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in this population (6,11,12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%