Prescription Drug Misuse and Risk Behaviors Among Young Injection Drug Users

Abstract

Prescription drug misuse among young adults, especially opioids, is a substantial public health problem in the United States. Although risks associated with injection of illicit drugs are well established, injection and sexual risks associated with misuse of prescription drugs are under-studied. Forty young injection drug users aged 16 to 25 who reported injection of a prescription drug were recruited in 2008–09 in Los Angeles and New York City. Descriptive quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to illustrate risky injection and sexual behaviors reported in this sample. Over half of participants engaged in risky injection behavior, three-quarters engaged in risky sexual behavior, nearly half reported both risky behaviors, and five did not report either risk behavior while misusing a prescription drug. Prescription opioids, tranquilizers, and stimulants were misused in the context of risky sexual behaviors while only opioids were misused in the context of injection risk behaviors. Access to clean syringes, attitudes and beliefs regarding hepatitis C, and risk reduction through partner selection were identified as key themes that contextualized risk behaviors. Although these findings help identify areas to target educational campaigns, such as prevention of sexually transmitted infections, risk behaviors specifically associated with prescription drug misuse warrant further study.

Motivations for prescription drug misuse among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia

“…In some occasions there is explicit forethought to use prescription drugs (mainly opioids and tranquilizers) for the purposes of engaging sexually with other men and maximizing sexual pleasure. In this process, some found that prescription opioids negatively affect their desire to have sex, which is similar to previous study of opioid users (Johnson et al, 2013). Furthermore, some participants used opioids to ease the pain associated with receptive anal sex.…”

Injection and sexual HIV/HCV risk behaviors associated with nonmedical use of prescription opioids among young adults in New York City

“…Research conducted with heroin users has consistently shown that new injectors (generally in the 16–30 year-old age range) have especially high rates of risky injection-related behaviors (Thorpe et al, 2002; Garfein et al, 2007). Recent research documents similar patterns among injecting PO misusers (Surratt, Kurtz and Cicero, 2011; Lankenau et al, 2012; Johnson et al, 2013). Behaviors such as sharing syringes and other drug-injection equipment, use of shooting galleries and communal sharing of drug solution in group-injection situations have been well-documented among young heroin injection initiates and may place them at high risk for HIV and/or HCV transmission (Fuller et al, 2003; Goldsamt, Harocopos, Kobrak, Jost & Clatts, 2010; Harocopos, Goldsamt, Kobrak, Jost & Clatts, 2009; Guarino, Moore, Marsch & Florio, 2012).…”

Growth In Buprenorphine Waivers For Physicians Increased Potential Access To Opioid Agonist Treatment, 2002–11

“…(2) Illicit opioid use contributes to medical morbidity, promotes risky behaviors, and complicates treatment for medical and mental health conditions. (3–5) In 2009, the annual societal costs of heroin and prescription opioid misuse, including overdose deaths, lost productivity, criminal justice costs, and individual health care costs, totaled an estimated $55.7 billion. (6, 7)…”