Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Nov;86(6):946-50.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-009-9356-5.

Who purchases nonprescription syringes? Characterizing customers of the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP)

Haven B Battles  1 , Kirsten A Rowe, Christina Ortega-Peluso, Susan J Klein, James M Tesoriero
Affiliations

Who purchases nonprescription syringes? Characterizing customers of the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP)

Haven B Battles et al. J Urban Health. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

This study represents the first attempt in the USA to survey pharmacy nonprescription syringe customers at their point of purchase. We surveyed 62 individuals purchasing nonprescription syringes in seven pharmacies located in NYC and Albany, NY, USA. Three quarters of respondents purchased for illicit use, and 36% purchased for medical use, with differences found by race and gender. Half got their syringes from pharmacies "most of the time." Half had ever been refused a syringe purchase in a NYS pharmacy, with men, Blacks, and Hispanics reporting higher levels of refusals than women or whites. Two thirds reported syringe reuse but very few reported sharing. While approximately one quarter safely obtained and disposed of syringes "most of the time," two thirds used both safe and unsafe methods. Pharmacy-based syringe access programs are essential in areas not served by syringe exchanges.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1177/1090198106288560', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198106288560'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '16816027', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16816027/'}]}
    2. Cleland CM, Deren S, Fuller CM, et al. Syringe disposal among injection drug users in Harlem and the Bronx during the New York State Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program. Health Educ Behav. 2007;34:390–403. doi:10.1177/1090198106288560. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.2105/AJPH.2005.069591', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2005.069591'}, {'type': 'PMC', 'value': 'PMC1716247', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1716247/'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17138929', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17138929/'}]}
    2. Fuller CM, Galea S, Caceres W, Blaney S, Sisco S, Vlahov D. Multilevel community-based intervention to increase access to sterile syringes among injection drug users through pharmacy sales in New York City. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):117–124. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.069591. - PMC - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1097/QAD.0b013e3280114a15', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1097/qad.0b013e3280114a15'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17197815', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17197815/'}]}
    2. Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, Perlis T, et al. Convergence of HIV seroprevalence among injecting and non-injecting drug users in New York City. AIDS. 2007;21:231–235. doi:10.1097/QAD.0b013e3280114a15. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1521/aeap.2007.19.2.111', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2007.19.2.111'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17411414', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17411414/'}]}
    2. Des Jarlais DD, Braine N, Yi H, Turner C. Residual injection risk behavior, HIV infection, and the evaluation of syringe exchange programs. AIDS Educ Prev. 2007;19(2):111–123. doi:10.1521/aeap.2007.19.2.111. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1007/s10461-006-9096-4', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9096-4'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '16642418', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16642418/'}]}
    2. Deren S, Cleland CM, Fuller C, Kang SY, Des Jarlais DC, Vlahov D. The impact of syringe deregulation on sources of syringes for injection drug users: preliminary findings. AIDS Behav. 2006;10(6):717–721. doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9096-4. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances

LinkOut - more resources