ArticleHarm reduction journal2023
Factors associated with receptive injection equipment sharing among people who inject drugs: findings from a multistate study at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in Harm reduction journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Substance use and mental health before versus during COVID-19 pandemic among persons who inject drugs with HCV infection history-the HERO study.Harm reduction journal · 2026Trial
- Drug Use and Social Connectivity Related to Hepatitis C Infection Among Rural People Who Use Drugs.Journal of viral hepatitis · 2026Article
- A look beyond the needle: high prevalence of injecting risk behaviours among people who inject drugs in Zanzibar.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Associations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positivity with opioid, stimulant, and polysubstance injection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural U.S. communities.The International journal on drug policy · 2025Article
- Drug use and harm reduction practices of applicants to a public health vending machine service in Clark County, NV, 2021-2023.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Predictors of Knowledge and Risk Perception on Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Cross-sectional Study.The East African health research journal · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundReceptive injection equipment sharing (i.e., injecting with syringes, cookers, rinse water previously used by another person) plays a central role in the transmission of infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, viral hepatitis) among people who inject drugs. Better understanding these behaviors in the context of COVID-19 may afford insights about potential intervention opportunities in future health crises.
objectiveThis study examines factors associated with receptive injection equipment sharing among people who inject drugs in the context of COVID-19.
methodsFrom August 2020 to January 2021, people who inject drugs were recruited from 22 substance use disorder treatment programs and harm reduction service providers in nine states and the District of Columbia to complete a survey that ascertained how the COVID-19 pandemic affected substance use behaviors. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with people who inject drugs having recently engaged in receptive injection equipment sharing.
resultsOne in four people who inject drugs in our sample reported having engaged in receptive injection equipment sharing in the past month. Factors associated with greater odds of receptive injection equipment sharing included: having a high school education or equivalent (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.14, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.24, 3.69), experiencing hunger at least weekly (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.01, 3.56), and number of drugs injected (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.02, 1.30). Older age (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94, 1.00) and living in a non-metropolitan area (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.18, 1.02) were marginally associated with decreased odds of receptive injection equipment sharing.
conclusionsReceptive injection equipment sharing was relatively common among our sample during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings contribute to existing literature that examines receptive injection equipment sharing by demonstrating that this behavior was associated with factors identified in similar research that occurred before COVID. Eliminating high-risk injection practices among people who inject drugs requires investments in low-threshold and evidence-based services that ensure persons have access to sterile injection equipment.
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Registered trials
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