Attitudes Toward Injection Practices Among People Who Inject Drugs Utilizing Medical Services: Opportunities for Harm Reduction Counseling in Health Care Settings

Original research
by
Applewhite, Dinah et al

Release Date

2023

Geography

USA

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

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.

Keywords

Hospitals
Harm reduction
Injecting drugs
About PWUD