Peer Norms and Sharing of Injection Paraphernalia among Puerto Rican Injection Drug Users in New York and Puerto Rico

Abstract

This study examines the influence of peer norms on sharing of injection paraphernalia (e.g., indirect sharing behaviors, including sharing of cookers, cotton, rinse water and back/front loading) among Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and East Harlem, New York City. Data were collected from 873 Puerto Rican IDUs recruited in the two locations by outreach workers. Multiple logistic regression was conducted using sociodemographic and other control variables (e.g., education, frequency of injection, pooling money to buy drugs, use of needle exchange program, injection in galleries and syringe sharing behaviors) and two types of norms related to sharing of injection paraphernalia-encouraging risk norms (what others approve) and objecting to risk norms (what others disapprove). One type of norms, encouraging or approval norms, was associated with indirect sharing in New York but not in Puerto Rico. Pooling money to buy drugs, use of shooting galleries and syringe sharing was associated with indirect sharing in both locations. Prevention programs to reduce indirect sharing behaviors should take into consideration different types of risk norms in order to reduce indirect sharing risk behaviors.

More than just someone to inject drugs with: Injecting within primary injection partnerships

“…While pooling money is frequently associated with higher HIV and HCV risk (Andia et al, 2008; Go et al, 2011), pooling often acts as a way to leverage social capital in times of need (Bourgois et al, 2004). Viewing drug-using behaviors as one aspect of a larger relationship allows researchers to acknowledge traditional proxies such as pooling money for drugs and sex for drugs slightly differently.…”

The Role of Peer Support on Condom Use among Black and Latino MSM in Three Urban Areas

“…The term peer pressure is often used when referring to teen years; however, this influence continues through young adulthood (Clemens, Thombs, Olds, & Gordon, 2008;Perkins, 2007) and perhaps beyond. Among adults, researchers have investigated the impact of peer norms and its influence on drug use and drug-related activities (Andia, Deren, Robles, Kang, & Colon, 2008;Coffin et al, 2007;DaveyRothwell & Latkin, 2007;Longshore, Stein, & Anglin, 1997), and sex (Parsons & Bimbi, 2007;Reece, Milhausen, & Perera, 2006).…”

Drug use and peer norms among youth in a high-risk drug use neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

“…Since drug use is a highly-stigmatized set of behaviours, it is impossible to create random samples of drug users. Nonetheless, considerable knowledge has been acquired through non-random community samples in studies of drug users and their neighbourhoods by us (Friedman et al, 1989(Friedman et al, , 2007a(Friedman et al, , b, 2008Neaigus, Miller, Friedman, & Des Jarlais, in press;Rossi et al, 2008) and others (Andia, Deren, Robles, Kang, & Colon, 2008;Latkin, Forman, Knowlton, & Sherman, 2003;Latkin & Knowlton, 2005).…”

“…Other researchers have either adapted these external norms scales (Andia et al, 2008) or used very similar measures in cross-sectional studies. Andia et al found that encouragement to share paraphernalia other than syringes was associated among New York City drug injectors with indirect sharing.…”