AEGiS-15IAC: Introducing new drug preparation materials to reduce HIV and HCV transmission among IDUs.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Introducing new drug preparation materials to reduce HIV and HCV transmission among IDUs.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. TuOrC1112)

Colon HM, Finlinson HA, Robles R, Rios E
Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

ISSUES: The shared use of drug preparation materials has an important role in the transmission of HIV and HCV among IDUs. The shared use of these materials results in exposure to blood-borne pathogens largely because they come in contact with contaminated syringes during the process of preparing drug solutions. Modifying drug preparation practices so as to avoid contact between the syringes used for injecting and the materials used for preparing drug solutions could result in substantial risk reduction.

DESCRIPTION: We have conducted formative research to examine drug preparation practices and to identify alternative preparation materials. Recently completed research includes participant observation of the process of injecting shared drugs, elicitation of salient beliefs regarding the use of drug preparation materials, a quantitative survey among 400 IDUs, and preliminary assessment of alternative materials in focus group sessions with IDUs.

LESSONS LEARNED: We have identified several wat er dispensers and needle-less syringes. The water dispensers can be used to expel precise measures of water into a cooker; The needle-less syringes can be used to collect the drug solution and backload the solution into injection syringes. Our research suggests that these two materials are sufficient to eliminate the necessity of using injection syringes in the preparation of drug solutions. Our street observations indicate that the use of both devices represents rather simple modifications to already widely adopted practices.

RECOMMENDATIONS: There are devices that can effectively separate the preparation and division of injectable doses from contact with the injection syringes and that can be adapted to current practices and preferences, and be acceptable to IDUs. Successful introduction of these devices could substantially reduce viral transmission among IDUs in many communities. Further steps to field test the candidate devices and determine their acceptability and efficacy are needed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV Infections, Syringes, HIV-1, HIV Seroprevalence, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Hepacivirus, Drug Compounding, Animal, transmission

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TuOrC1112