Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
This study aimed to characterize people who inject drugs' (PWID) injection practices, the perceived risk and benefits of those practices, and the immediate injection drug use risk environment among individuals seeking medical care.
Findings/Key points
Practices that place PWID at risk of injury and infection are common, and risk-benefit perception is associated with some, but not all, injection practices. Injecting in challenging environments and conditions is common. Therefore, harm reduction counseling in medical settings must be accompanied by other strategies to reduce risk, including facilitating access to supplies. Ultimately, structural interventions, such as affordable housing, are needed to address the risk environment.
Design/methods
Surveys were administered to 120 PWID seeking medical services at an urban hospital.