Designing an experimental HIV/HCV intervention to promote the safe re-use of drug preparation materials by injection drug users in Puerto Rico

Injection drug users (IDUs) in San Juan, Puerto Rico are characterized by high rates of daily injecting, injection of shared drugs, re-use of injection syringes, and use of shooting galleries. They lack adequate access to new injection syringes and drug preparation equipment, and experience elevated rates of HIV and HCV infection. Between April and August, 2006, researchers and active IDUs collaborated in the development of an experimental HIV/HCV intervention aimed at identifying drug preparation items and practices that will enable IDUs to make drug solutions without potentially contaminated injection syringes contacting materials used to prepare drugs. The collaboration involved discussing and testing a variety of drug preparation items and practices in office and community settings. The process was repeated until concerns that had been raised were resolved, and a tentative set of intervention items and practices to be evaluated in a community field trial was identified. Throughout, a strong emphasis was placed on the capacity of an item or practice to address common problems confronted by IDUs (blunted needles, clogged syringes, injected particles) in addition to the core aim of reducing contamination of preparation materials by blood in injection syringes

An Exploratory Study of Puerto Rican MSM Drug Users The Childhood and Early Teen Years of Gay Males and Transsexual Females

Research suggests that sexual silence, family loyalty, and homophobia foster health-compromising behaviors among adult Latino gay males, but little is known about the effect of these sociocultural factors on the lives of Latino children and young teens characterized by gender nonconformity and homo-sexual orientation. This exploratory study of Puerto Rican men who have sex with men (MSM) used multisession qualitative interviews to examine early life experiences related to gender identity and homosexual orientation, and the place of drug use and risky sexual behavior in sexual identity formation. Gay male and transsexual female participants described at least one sympa-thetic family member, usually a female, who accepted cross-gender behavior and/or homosexual orientation. Half of the participants experienced unwanted sex as minors, and all were subjected to bullying by schoolmates. As pubescent youth, participants frequented adult gay venues where they were exposed to high-risk sexual and drug-related behaviors. Interventions for sexually ques-tioning and gay/transsexual Puerto Rican youth are proposed

Designing an experimental HIV/HCV intervention to promote the safe re-use of drug preparation materials by injection drug users in Puerto Rico-1

On syringes by backload rinsing. A preparation syringe (1b), a type of ancillary equipment not used for injecting, permits IDUs to pull up a measurable amount of water to add to drug powder, an alternative to producing water drops with the small water bottle. The Sterifilt filter (1c) attached to a preparation syringe (1d) eliminates the need for cotton or cigarette filters. Drug solution, having been filtered and drawn up into the preparation syringe, is transferred to an injection syringe (1e). The intervention kit (1f) includes a flip-top water bottle, cooker, preparation syringe (), Sterifilt filters, and bottle of alcohol sanitizer.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Designing an experimental HIV/HCV intervention to promote the safe re-use of drug preparation materials by injection drug users in Puerto Rico"</p><p>http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/5/1/14</p><p>Harm Reduction Journal 2008;5():14-14.</p><p>Published online 28 Apr 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2383883.</p><p></p