Reported experiences during syringe purchases in Providence, Rhode Island: implications for HIV prevention

Use of injection drugs remains a public health concern, with injection drug users (IDUs) experiencing an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. While the sale of non-prescription syringes in pharmacies is legal in most states, some pharmacists choose not to sell non-prescription syringes, or opt to sell syringes in quantities too large for purchase by many IDUs. Thus, we sought to understand the interpersonal experience of syringe sale/ purchase, the implications of policies regarding syringe sales, and pharmacy staff and IDU (mis)perceptions about one another. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 IDUs and 21 pharmacy staff (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians). Some important emergent themes were that individual experiences influenced overall perceptions, that IDUs and pharmacy staff differentiated between IDUs and other customers, and that some pharmacy staff demonstrated an understanding of the public health importance of accessible sterile syringes. Implications for future pharmacy-based interventions for IDUs are considered.