Journal article
Prescription Drug Misuse and Risk Behaviors Among Young Injection Drug Users
Journal of psychoactive drugs, v 45(2), pp 112-121
01 Apr 2013
PMID: 23908999
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Prescription drug misuse among young adults, especially opioids, is a substantial public health problem in the United States. Although risks associated with injection of illicit drugs are well established, injection and sexual risks associated with misuse of prescription drugs are under-studied. Forty young injection drug users aged 16 to 25 who reported injection of a prescription drug were recruited in 2008-09 in Los Angeles and New York City. Descriptive quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to illustrate risky injection and sexual behaviors reported in this sample. Over half of participants engaged in risky injection behavior, three-quarters engaged in risky sexual behavior, nearly half reported both risky behaviors, and five did not report either risk behavior while misusing a prescription drug. Prescription opioids, tranquilizers, and stimulants were misused in the context of risky sexual behaviors while only opioids were misused in the context of injection risk behaviors. Access to clean syringes, attitudes and beliefs regarding hepatitis C, and risk reduction through partner selection were identified as key themes that contextualized risk behaviors. Although these findings help identify areas to target educational campaigns, such as prevention of sexually transmitted infections, risk behaviors specifically associated with prescription drug misuse warrant further study.
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Details
- Title
- Prescription Drug Misuse and Risk Behaviors Among Young Injection Drug Users
- Creators
- Kristen M Johnson - Research Assistant, Drexel University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMeghan Fibbi - Medical Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineDebra Langer - Dr.P.H. Candidate, Drexel University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and PreventionKarol Silva - Doctoral Student, Temple University, Department of PsychologyStephen E Lankenau - Associate Professor, Drexel University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and Prevention
- Publication Details
- Journal of psychoactive drugs, v 45(2), pp 112-121
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000327941500002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84879068297
- Other Identifier
- 991014878446804721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Clinical
- Substance Abuse