Reductions in High-Risk Drug Use Behaviors Among Participants in the Baltimore Needle Exchange Program

Abstract

To determine whether enrollment in the Baltimore Needle Exchange Program (NEP) was associated with short-term reduction in risky injection practices. Demographic information was collected on NEP participants upon enrollment. A systematic sample of enrollees was interviewed at program entry, 2 weeks, and 6 months later on recent drug-related behaviors. Comparisons were performed using paired t-tests. Among 221 NEP participants who completed baseline, 2-week and 6-month follow-up visits, significant reductions (p p These results show rapid and mostly large reductions in a variety of risky injection drug use behaviors. Study findings are consistent with earlier reports showing an association between behavioral risk reduction and participation in a needle exchange program.