A comparison of injecting and noninjecting methamphetamine users

The injection of illicit drugs exposes the user to a variety of risks that are not associated with other routes of administration. Information regarding differences between injecting and noninjecting methamphetamine (MA) users is provided. The population studied included MA dependent men and women (n = 427) from the Matrix Institute on Addictions in San Bernardino County, California. The sample was divided into two groups according to their injecting status; 55 individuals (13%) reported injecting, and 372 (87%) reported no history of injecting MA. Differences were found in specific use patterns and in medical, criminal, and psychological histories between the two groups.