Document 0330
 DOCN  M9460330
 TI    An interview study of participants in the Tacoma, Washington, syringe
       exchange.
 DT    9404
 AU    Hagan H; Des Jarlais DC; Purchase D; Friedman SR; Reid T; Bell TA;
       Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Washington.
 SO    Addiction. 1993 Dec;88(12):1691-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94177074
 AB    Although European and Australian studies of syringe exchange programs
       have reported safer injection among participants and no increase in drug
       use, the generalizability of these findings to the US is uncertain. We
       report on the operations and potential effectiveness of the
       longest-operating syringe exchange in the US and compare our results to
       studies of exchange programs outside the US. The sample of 204 study
       subjects reported no change in the frequency of injection, from 155 to
       152 injections per month, and a decline in the frequency of unsafe
       injections, from 56 to 30 times per month, while participating in the
       program. In all studies, participants report reduction in unsafe
       injections, and no increase in illicit drug use. However, the comparison
       also suggests that a high proportion of Tacoma exchangers have higher
       initial rates of drug injection, unsafe injection and homelessness, all
       of which were associated with unsafe injection while using the exchange.
       These indicate a need for additional services but that the Tacoma
       program is no less effective than European and Australian programs.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PREVENTION & CONTROL  Adult  Female
       *Health Promotion  Health Surveys  Human  Male  Questionnaires
       Risk-Taking  *Substance Abuse, Intravenous  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Syringes/*UTILIZATION  United States  Washington  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).