Needle fixation has the potential to undermine
harm-reduction efforts and may affect up to one-quarter of all injecting drug
users (IDUs). Being largely ignored in the extant literature, the majority of
research on this phenomenon has been carried out exclusively in Cardiff, Wales.
The current exploratory study examined the applicability of
needle fixation in a population of Australian IDUs to determine whether
Australian IDUs were familiar with the behaviors and secondary gains that have
been found to be associated with needle fixation and are assessed by the needle
fixation profile (NEFPRO).
A mixed-method design utilizing semi-structured interviews
and questionnaire data was employed.
Australian IDUs were aware of or had experience with the
behaviors and secondary gains that have been found to be associated with needle
fixation. A number of other behaviors and secondary gains associated with
injecting were discussed by participants during the semi-structured interviews.
This study offers preliminary support for the use of
NEFPRO as a clinical and research tool within Australia. To ensure that all
avenues toward harm reduction are being explored, it would be fruitful to
engage in further research concerning the cross-cultural representations of
needle fixation specifically as well as the general influence of needle
fixation in perpetuating injecting drug use.
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- 1 Central Queensland Mental Health , Alcohol and Other Drugs Division, Queensland Government , Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia.
- 2 School of Human Health and Social Sciences , CQUniversity , North Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia.
- 3 Rockhampton Psychology Services , Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia.
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