Pharmacy Access to Sterile Syringes for Injection Drug Users: Attitudes of Participants in a Syringe Exchange Program

Junge, Benjamin; Vlahov, David; Riley, Elise D.; Huettner, Steven; Brown, Michele; Beilenson, Peter

doi:10.1016/s1086-5802(16)30410-7

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Participants tend to patronize programs that are in close geographic proximity (Rockwell, Des Jarlais, Friedman, Perlis, & Paone, 1999). Recent research has shown that innovative methods of syringe collection, such as using drop boxes (Riley et al, 1998), vending machines (Moatti, Vlahov, Feroni, Perrin, & Obadia, 2001), and a variety of venues for exchange, including pharmacy access, are supported both by IDUs and the community (Coffin, 2000;Coffin, Linas, Factor, & Vlahov, 2000;Junge et al, 1999;Riley et al, 2000).…”

Section: Syringe Exchange and Hiv Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health Benefits of Secondary Syringe Exchange

Murphy¹,

Kelley²,

Lune³

2004

Journal of Drug Issues

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From a process evaluation, participants in San Francisco's syringe exchange program (SEP) are described. Three groups, primary, secondary, and nonexchangers, were interviewed for a total of 244 study participants recruited from eight needle exchange sessions. Fifty percent of all primary exchangers exchanged for one or more injecting drug user(s) (IDUs). Three general routes of syringe distribution were identified between primary and secondary exchangers: between close friends and lovers; for people who lived in close proximity to them; and with customers who bought drugs from them. Focusing on why some go to SEPs and why some rely on others to go for them, findings are summarized primarily as the barriers for not attending SEPs, including exposure, legal status, illness, drug lifestyle, and conflicts with service provision. The secondary exchangers had similar risk reduction profiles to the SEP users that overall were better than the nonexchangers. For example, they shared syringes and cookers significantly fewer times than nonexchangers. The results demonstrate that these client-provided exchanges enable the SEP to overcome injection drug users' obstacles to program attendance, thereby reaching even hard to access members of IDU populations. We found the effects of these client-provided services to be positive for the larger IDU population.

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Section: Syringe Exchange and Hiv Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health Benefits of Secondary Syringe Exchange

Murphy¹,

Kelley²,

Lune³

2004

Journal of Drug Issues

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“…29-31 Non-prescription syringe sales offer the potential for enhancing syringe availability due to the broad distribution of pharmacies throughout most regions of the U.S. and up to 24 hours of operation, 27,32 but syringe sales rates can vary substantially, depending on local legislation and local pharmacy practice. 33 In many states, PWID recognize pharmacies as stable, safe and affordable sources of sterile syringes, 19,34,35 and other services, depending on the training level of the pharmacists. 36 A large percentage of pharmacists have agreed to sell non-prescription syringes across the U.S. 16,18,20,37,38 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonprescription naloxone and syringe sales in the midst of opioid overdose and hepatitis C virus epidemics: Massachusetts, 2015

Stopka¹,

Donahue²,

Hutcheson³

et al. 2017

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association

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Objectives To determine the prevalence of non-prescription naloxone and sterile syringe sales, factors associated with non-prescription sales, geospatial access to non-prescription naloxone and syringe selling pharmacies, and targets for potential interventions. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants Massachusetts has experienced steep increases in reported opioid overdoses and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases in the past decade. Pharmacists have the potential to play a substantial role in increasing access to non-prescription naloxone and sterile syringes, which can reverse opioid overdoses and decrease HCV transmission, respectively. We completed brief telephone surveys with 809 of 1,042 retail pharmacies across Massachusetts (response rate=77.6%) during 2015 to assess experience with non-prescription sales of naloxone and sterile syringes. Outcome Measures Our primary outcomes were the stocking and selling of naloxone in the pharmacy (yes/no) for non-prescription sales, and non-prescription syringe sales (yes/no). We conducted multivariable regression analyses and created maps using a geographic information system (GIS) to identify factors associated with non-prescription sales of naloxone and sterile syringes, and to improve our understanding geospatial access to pharmacy-based naloxone and syringe sales. Results Over 97% of pharmacies reported selling sterile syringes without requiring a prescription and 45% of pharmacies reported stocking and selling naloxone. Factors associated with non-prescription sales included: hours of operation, experience with and interest in harm reduction activities, and presence in an opioid overdose hotspot. Geographic access to non-prescription sale of sterile syringes is wide-spread, while geospatial access to naloxone is more limited. Training to better understand the benefits, applications, and distribution needs of naloxone is of interest to surveyed pharmacists. Conclusion Access to sterile syringes through non-prescription sales is strong across Massachusetts and, while over 350 pharmacies (45%) reported stocking and selling naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths, there is much room for improvement in access, and training among pharmacy staff.

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“…6 A number of states have introduced legislation to permit OTC sales of syringes within pharmacies. 5,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Pharmacy syringe sales have been associated with reduced injection-mediated risks, including rates of syringe sharing, 5,[17][18][19] and reduced rates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs). 20,21 HIV infection levels were twice as high among IDUs in cities across the USA that did not permit OTC syringe sales compared to IDUs in cities that did.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18,22 IDUs generally consider pharmacies as stable, safe, and affordable sources of sterile syringes. 11,23 In Connecticut, where legislation permitted the sale of OTC syringes, a large percentage of pharmacists agreed to sell syringes. 8,10,12 In Baltimore, Maryland, some pharmacists ran syringe exchange programs in their stores.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with Presence of Pharmacies and Pharmacies that Sell Syringes Over-the-Counter in Los Angeles County

et al. 2013

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Community pharmacies serve as key locations for public health services including interventions to enhance the availability of syringes sold over-the-counter (OTC), an important strategy to prevent injection-mediated HIV transmission. Little is known about the community characteristics associated with the availability of pharmacies and pharmacies that sell syringes OTC. We conducted multivariable regression analyses to determine whether the sociodemographic characteristics of census tract residents were associated with pharmacy presence in Los Angeles (LA) County during 2008. Using a geographic information system, we conducted hot-spot analyses to identify clusters of pharmacies, OTC syringe-selling pharmacies, sociodemographic variables, and their relationships. For LA County census tracts (N02,054), population size (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.22; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.16, 1.28), median age of residents (AOR, 1.03; 95 % CI, 1.01, 1.05), and the percent of households receiving public assistance (AOR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.94, 0.99) were independently associated with the presence of all pharmacies. Only 12 % of census tracts had at least one OTC syringe-selling pharmacy and sociodemographic variables were not independently associated with the presence of OTC syringe-selling pharmacies. Clusters of pharmacies (pG0.01) were located proximally to clusters of older populations and were distant from clusters of poorer populations. Our combined statistical and spatial analyses provided an innovative approach to assess the sociodemographic and geographic factors associated with the presence of community pharmacies and pharmacies that participate in OTC syringe sales.

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Pharmacy Access to Sterile Syringes for Injection Drug Users: Attitudes of Participants in a Syringe Exchange Program

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

The Health Benefits of Secondary Syringe Exchange

The Health Benefits of Secondary Syringe Exchange

Nonprescription naloxone and syringe sales in the midst of opioid overdose and hepatitis C virus epidemics: Massachusetts, 2015

Factors Associated with Presence of Pharmacies and Pharmacies that Sell Syringes Over-the-Counter in Los Angeles County

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