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Strategies to avoid opiate withdrawal: implications for HCV and HIV risks
Pedro Mateu-Gelabert1, Milagros Sandoval, Peter Meylakhs
1National Development Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY 10010, United States. mateu-gelabert@ndri.org
The International Journal on Drug Policy
|September 30, 2009
Summary
Heroin withdrawal increases unsafe injection practices among long-term users. However, some individuals develop strategies to manage withdrawal and reduce risks, potentially preventing infections like HIV and Hepatitis C.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Research
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Clinical research on heroin withdrawal focuses on symptoms and functioning.
- Limited understanding exists regarding heroin withdrawal's impact on injection behavior.
- This study investigates how withdrawal influences unsafe injection practices and risk management among long-term users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between heroin withdrawal episodes and unsafe injection practices.
- To identify coping mechanisms and risk-reduction strategies employed by long-term injection drug users (IDUs) during withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- In-depth life history interviews were conducted with 32 long-term IDUs in New York City.
- Participants had 8-15 years of injecting drug use history.
- Grounded theory techniques were used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Heroin withdrawal can compromise safe injection practices, leading to riskier behaviors.
- Increased likelihood of engaging in unsafe settings and sharing injection equipment was observed.
- IDUs employ various strategies to cope with withdrawal, such as carrying clean needles or using alternative methods like sniffing drugs.
Conclusions:
- Withdrawal periods are associated with elevated risks in injection practices.
- Some IDUs successfully implement strategies to avoid withdrawal or manage it without resorting to high-risk behaviors.
- These adaptive behaviors may contribute to the prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C infections.
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