Basmattee Boodram1, Mary-Ellen Mackesy-Amiti2, Carl Latkin3. 1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street, M/C 923, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. Electronic address: bboodram@uic.edu. 2. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street, M/C 923, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. Electronic address: mmamiti@uic.edu. 3. Department of Epidemiology & Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N, Broadway, Hampton House 737, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: carl_latkin@jhu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about young persons who inject drugs (PWID), who are increasingly from suburban communities and predominantly non-Hispanic white. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional personal network (egocentric) and geographic study of young PWID and their drug-using, sexual, and support network members in 2012-13 in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, U.S. RESULTS: We enrolled 164 young (median age=26), mostly male (65%), non-Hispanic white PWID (71%), with a self-reported HCV prevalence of 13%. Many (59%) reported multiple residences (i.e., were transient) in the past year, 45% of whom reported living in both urban and suburban places (i.e., were cross-over transients). In multivariable analyses that adjusted for participant and network member characteristics, (1) large injection networks were more common among homeless participants; and (2) syringe sharing was (a) highest among cross-over transients compared to suburban (OR=4.19 95% CI 1.69-10.35) and urban only residents (OR=2.91 95% CI 1.06-8.03), (b) higher among HCV-unknown compared HCV-negative participants (OR=4.62 95% CI 1.69-10.35), (c) more likely with network members who were cross-over transients compared to urban (OR=4.94, 95% CI 2.17-11.23) and (d) less likely with network members with HCV-unknown compared to HCV-negative status (OR=0.4 95% CI 0.19-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: We identified homelessness as a significant risk factor for large networks and cross-over transience as a significant risk factor for syringe sharing. Further research is needed to understand the role of geographic factors promoting higher risk among these crossover transient PWID.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about young persons who inject drugs (PWID), who are increasingly from suburban communities and predominantly non-Hispanic white. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional personal network (egocentric) and geographic study of young PWID and their drug-using, sexual, and support network members in 2012-13 in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, U.S. RESULTS: We enrolled 164 young (median age=26), mostly male (65%), non-Hispanic white PWID (71%), with a self-reported HCV prevalence of 13%. Many (59%) reported multiple residences (i.e., were transient) in the past year, 45% of whom reported living in both urban and suburban places (i.e., were cross-over transients). In multivariable analyses that adjusted for participant and network member characteristics, (1) large injection networks were more common among homeless participants; and (2) syringe sharing was (a) highest among cross-over transients compared to suburban (OR=4.19 95% CI 1.69-10.35) and urban only residents (OR=2.91 95% CI 1.06-8.03), (b) higher among HCV-unknown compared HCV-negative participants (OR=4.62 95% CI 1.69-10.35), (c) more likely with network members who were cross-over transients compared to urban (OR=4.94, 95% CI 2.17-11.23) and (d) less likely with network members with HCV-unknown compared to HCV-negative status (OR=0.4 95% CI 0.19-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: We identified homelessness as a significant risk factor for large networks and cross-over transience as a significant risk factor for syringe sharing. Further research is needed to understand the role of geographic factors promoting higher risk among these crossover transient PWID.
Authors: David Pugatch; Bradley J Anderson; Janet V O'Connell; Laura C Elson; Michael D Stein Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Kimberly Page; Judith A Hahn; Jennifer Evans; Stephen Shiboski; Paula Lum; Eric Delwart; Leslie Tobler; William Andrews; Lia Avanesyan; Stewart Cooper; Michael P Busch Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2009-10-15 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Joseph J Amon; Richard S Garfein; Linda Ahdieh-Grant; Gregory L Armstrong; Lawrence J Ouellet; Mary H Latka; David Vlahov; Steffanie A Strathdee; Sharon M Hudson; Peter Kerndt; Don Des Jarlais; Ian T Williams Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2008-06-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Daniel Tracy; Judith A Hahn; Crystal Fuller Lewis; Jennifer Evans; Alya Briceño; Meghan D Morris; Paula J Lum; Kimberly Page Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2014-05-29 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Basmattee Boodram; Anna L Hotton; Louis Shekhtman; Alexander Gutfraind; Harel Dahari Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2018-02 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Paul L Sacamano; Shruti H Mehta; Carl Latkin; Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia; Gregory D Kirk; Abby E Rudolph Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-12-23 Impact factor: 4.852
Authors: Leslie D Williams; Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti; Carl Latkin; Basmattee Boodram Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 4.492