Lower syringe sharing and re-use after syringe legalization in Rhode Island

needle exchange in RI vs. MA

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T63-4NBRYFX-1&_user=861681&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000046147&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=861681&md5=8782a5059338af9c4f043db077c
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Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 89, Issues 2-3, 10 July 2007, Pages 292-297

Lower syringe sharing and re-use after syringe legalization in Rhode
Island

Josiah D. Richa et al.


ABSTRACT

Increased access to sterile syringes reduces the transmission of HIV,
viral hepatitis and other infectious diseases, without increasing
injection drug use.

In Rhode Island, in 2000, syringes were legalized to reduce spread of
disease but remained outlawed in Massachusetts until 2006.

Drug users undergoing inpatient detoxification in Rhode Island and
Massachusetts were surveyed about their syringe usage between October
2001 and August 2003. Two hundred forty-seven Rhode Island, and 226
Massachusetts inpatients completed surveys.

Of these, 61% (n = 151) from Rhode Island and 46% (n = 105) from
Massachusetts reported injecting within 6 months.

Respondents from Rhode Island reported reusing a syringe in the last 30
days less often than Massachusetts respondents (0.35 versus 0.50; 95% CI
on difference 0.01-0.29).

Syringe re-use and sharing among drug injectors in Rhode Island was
markedly lower than in Massachusetts.

This difference is attributed at least in part to the legalization of
non-prescription sterile syringes in Rhode Island in 2000.

Laws and policies that increase legal syringe availability can decrease
injection related transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases.