Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors, Multiple and Specific Drug Use, and Needle‐Sharing in Male Injection‐Drug Users

The authors studied the influences of multiple and specific drug use on needle‐sharing in a cohort of male injection drug users (IDUs). Subjects were 294 male IDUs, 41% of whom were HIV‐positive. Subjects were given individually administered interviews using questionnaires. The authors used logistic regression analysis and found a relationship between more frequent cocaine and heroin use and needle‐sharing behavior. As the total number of drugs used increased, the risk of needle‐sharing with both familiar people and strangers increased. This effect of the number of drugs used was modified by family protective factors. Heroin and cocaine use, and multiple‐drug use, were identified as risk factors for needle‐sharing behavior among male IDUs. 1995 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry