AIMS: To identify the prevalence and correlates of midazolam injection among injecting drug users in Thailand. DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional mixed-methods study. SETTING: Bangkok, Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 435 adults who had injected drug(s) in the past 6 months were recruited through peer outreach and word of mouth in Bangkok in 2011. MEASUREMENTS: Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze self-reported data collected through an interviewer-administered survey in July-October 2011 (n = 435). Additionally, qualitative data were collected in June-July 2009 (n = 10) and analyzed to explore the health problems attributable to midazolam injection. FINDINGS: Among 435 survey participants, the prevalence of daily midazolam injection in the past 6 months was 37.0% (95% confidence interval: 32-42). While 75.8% of the daily midazolam injectors identified heroin as their drug of choice, 91.8% of these individuals reported substituting heroin with midazolam when heroin was unavailable. In multivariable analyses, daily midazolam injection was associated with femoral vein injection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.48], polydrug use (AOR = 4.94), daily heroin injection (AOR = 3.25), binge use (AOR = 1.75) and perceived increase in policing pressure (AOR = 1.95) (all P < 0.05). Qualitative accounts indicated severe health problems associated with midazolam injection, including nerve and vascular injuries. CONCLUSION: Midazolam misuse is increasing among injecting drug users in Bangkok and appears to be used primarily as a substitute for heroin. Midazolam injection was associated independently with various risk factors for injection-related complications. Given the many deleterious effects of midazolam injection, novel interventions for midazolam injectors are needed urgently.
AIMS: To identify the prevalence and correlates of midazolam injection among injecting drug users in Thailand. DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional mixed-methods study. SETTING: Bangkok, Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 435 adults who had injected drug(s) in the past 6 months were recruited through peer outreach and word of mouth in Bangkok in 2011. MEASUREMENTS: Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze self-reported data collected through an interviewer-administered survey in July-October 2011 (n = 435). Additionally, qualitative data were collected in June-July 2009 (n = 10) and analyzed to explore the health problems attributable to midazolam injection. FINDINGS: Among 435 survey participants, the prevalence of daily midazolam injection in the past 6 months was 37.0% (95% confidence interval: 32-42). While 75.8% of the daily midazolam injectors identified heroin as their drug of choice, 91.8% of these individuals reported substituting heroin with midazolam when heroin was unavailable. In multivariable analyses, daily midazolam injection was associated with femoral vein injection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.48], polydrug use (AOR = 4.94), daily heroin injection (AOR = 3.25), binge use (AOR = 1.75) and perceived increase in policing pressure (AOR = 1.95) (all P < 0.05). Qualitative accounts indicated severe health problems associated with midazolam injection, including nerve and vascular injuries. CONCLUSION:Midazolam misuse is increasing among injecting drug users in Bangkok and appears to be used primarily as a substitute for heroin. Midazolam injection was associated independently with various risk factors for injection-related complications. Given the many deleterious effects of midazolam injection, novel interventions for midazolam injectors are needed urgently.
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