High Dead-Space Syringe Use among People Who Inject Drugs in Tijuana, Mexico

High dead-space syringes (HDSS) are believed to confer an elevated risk of acquiring HIV and other blood-borne infections.

Of 557 IDU, 40% had ever used HDSS, mostly because no other syringe type was available (72%), or because they were easier to get (20%). Controlling for sex and age at first injection, use of HDSS was associated with cocaine as the first drug injected, having been stopped or arrested by police, being deported from the US, and believing it is illegal to carry syringes.

Use of HDSS is surprisingly common among IDU in Tijuana. Efforts are needed to expand coverage of low-dead space syringes through existing syringe exchange programs. Education is required to increase awareness of the harms associated with HDSS, and to inform IDU that syringe possession is legal across Mexico.

Via: http://ht.ly/S6MbR

By: Rafful C1, Zule W, González-Zúñiga PE, Werb D, Medina-Mora ME, Magis-Rodriguez C, Strathdee SA.

1University of California , San Diego, La Jolla, CA