BACKGROUND: Shooting galleries, locations where intravenous drug users (IVDUs) can rent or borrow needles and syringes, are a high-risk environment for HIV-1 transmission. This study investigates risk factors for lifetime attendance at shooting galleries and differentiates characteristics of those who continue to frequent shooting galleries and those who have stopped. METHODS: We interviewed 2615 active IVDUs in Baltimore in 1988 and 1989 and determined patterns of IV drug use, sociodemographics, and HIV-1 serostatus as related to persistence vs cessation of shooting gallery use. RESULTS: Over half (52%) of active IVDUs reported ever using a shooting gallery, with 33% reporting use within the prior 3 months. In multivariate analysis, lifetime shooting gallery use was associated with male gender, homosexuality/bisexuality, low socioeconomic status, Black race, and heavier drug involvement. Persistent shooting gallery users were more frequently male, homosexual/bisexual, homeless, less educated, and started IV drug use more recently compared with those who ceased going to shooting galleries. CONCLUSIONS: Shooting gallery attendance may be pragmatic from a sociological and economic perspective, but it carries with it a heightened risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.
BACKGROUND: Shooting galleries, locations where intravenous drug users (IVDUs) can rent or borrow needles and syringes, are a high-risk environment for HIV-1 transmission. This study investigates risk factors for lifetime attendance at shooting galleries and differentiates characteristics of those who continue to frequent shooting galleries and those who have stopped. METHODS: We interviewed 2615 active IVDUs in Baltimore in 1988 and 1989 and determined patterns of IV drug use, sociodemographics, and HIV-1 serostatus as related to persistence vs cessation of shooting gallery use. RESULTS: Over half (52%) of active IVDUs reported ever using a shooting gallery, with 33% reporting use within the prior 3 months. In multivariate analysis, lifetime shooting gallery use was associated with male gender, homosexuality/bisexuality, low socioeconomic status, Black race, and heavier drug involvement. Persistent shooting gallery users were more frequently male, homosexual/bisexual, homeless, less educated, and started IV drug use more recently compared with those who ceased going to shooting galleries. CONCLUSIONS: Shooting gallery attendance may be pragmatic from a sociological and economic perspective, but it carries with it a heightened risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.
Authors: Scott Burris; Kim M Blankenship; Martin Donoghoe; Susan Sherman; Jon S Vernick; Patricia Case; Zita Lazzarini; Stephen Koester Journal: Milbank Q Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.911
Authors: Shruti H Mehta; Darshan Sudarshi; Aylur K Srikrishnan; David D Celentano; Canjeevaram K Vasudevan; Santhanam Anand; Muniratnam Suresh Kumar; Carl Latkin; Suniti Solomon; Sunil S Solomon Journal: Addiction Date: 2011-10-12 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Morgan Philbin; Robin A Pollini; Rebecca Ramos; Remedios Lozada; Kimberly C Brouwer; Maria Elena Ramos; Michelle Firestone-Cruz; Patricia Case; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2008-03-28