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Assisted Injections Dangerous

Illicit injection drug use is associated with a wide array of problems, not the least of which are new cases of HIV and hepatitis C infection. “Assisted injection” is a common practice among injection-drug users, yet little is known about individuals who assist with injections.

Researchers interviewed 704 (295 females, 409 males) participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study. Of the total, 27.4 percent or 193 (85 females, 108 males) had provided others with help injecting drugs during the previous six months. The study found that assisted injections were associated with various high-risk behaviors: lending one’s own syringe, frequent heroin injection, unstable housing, binge drug use, frequent cocaine injection, and frequent use of crack cocaine. The authors suggest a need for education about sterility as well as consideration of safer injection facilities.

(Fairbairn, N, Wood, E, Small, W, Stoltz, J-A, Li, K, Kerr, T: Risk profile of individuals who provide assistance with illicit drug injections. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 82:41-46, 2006.)

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