Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28811
Title: Health risk and health seeking behaviours among people who inject performance and image enhancing drugs who access needle syringe programs in Australia
Contributor(s): van de Ven, Katinka  (author)orcid ; Maher, Lisa (author); Wand, Handan (author); Memedovic, Sonja (author); Jackson, Eva (author); Iversen, Jenny (author)
Publication Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1111/dar.12831
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28811
Abstract: Introduction and Aims. People who use performance and image enhancing drugs (PIED) are a growing population in needle syringe programs (NSP) in Australia. Previous international research has identified heterogeneity among the PIED-using population. This study investigated health behaviours among NSP attendees who had recently (last 12 months) injected PIEDs and examined differences among this group according to recent psychoactive drug use. Design and Methods. The Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey is an annually repeated cross-sectional survey conducted at approximately 50 NSPs nationally. In 2015, respondents provided information on their demographic characteristics, health risk and health monitoring behaviours, and provided a capillary dried blood spot for HIV and hepatitis C virus antibody testing. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions assessed factors associated with recent (last 12 months) use (all routes of administration) of psychoactive drugs. Results. Among recent PIED injectors (n= 156), 59% had recently used psychoactive substances. Those who had recently used psychoactive drugs were significantly younger, less educated and more likely to have experienced redness at an injection site in the previous 12 months but were more likely to report recent HIV/hepatitis C virus testing. Discussion and Conclusions. This study identified significant differences in demographic characteristics, risk and health seeking behaviour among PIED users who did and did not also use psychoactive substances. There is a need to enhance and tailor harm reduction efforts and to build the capacity of NSP staff to better meet the needs of this diverse group.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Drug and Alcohol Review, 37(7), p. 837-846
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1465-3362
0959-5236
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
160299 Criminology not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 440214 Sociological studies of crime
420606 Social determinants of health
441011 Sociology of health
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920414 Substance Abuse
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200201 Determinants of health
200413 Substance abuse
230403 Criminal justice
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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