Acceptability of a safer injection facility among injection drug users in San Francisco

Research has shown that safer injection facilities (SIFs) are successful at reducing public nuisance and enhancing public health. Since 2007 support for implementation of a SIF in San Francisco has been building. The objective of this study is to assess the acceptability of a SIF among injection drug users (IDUs) in San Francisco.

IDUs were recruited in San Francisco using targeted sampling and interviewed using a quantitative survey (N=602). We assessed the prevalence of willingness to use a SIF as well as correlates of willingness among this group.

Eighty-five percent of IDUs reported that they would use a SIF, three quarters of whom would use it at least 3 days per week. In multivariate analysis, having injected in public and having injected speedballs were associated with intent to use a SIF. The majority of IDUs reported acceptability of many potential rules and regulations of a pilot SIF, except video surveillance, and being required to show identification.

Building on the success of SIFs in various international settings, IDUs in San Francisco appear interested in using a SIF should one be implemented.