Psychosocial Predictors of Needle Sharing among Intravenous Drug Users

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between health beliefs and needle sharing in a sample of 226 heroin detoxification clients. Zero-order correlations revealed that needle sharing was positively associated with perceived susceptibility and AIDS anxiety, and negatively associated with self-efficacy and communication skill in negotiating safe needle practices. Logistic regression analysis showed that demographic and situational factors also play a role in needle sharing. White race and injection of drugs in shooting galleries or other public places increase the odds of sharing a “dirty” needle, while that probability decreases sharply as a function of drug users' self-efficacy. This last finding suggests that preventive clinical interventions such as counseling or psychoeducational groups maybe needed to help drug users develop confidence in resisting needle sharing.