Preface
- 作者：Hans-K. Pulker
- 关键词：Xylazine ; Speedball ; Injection ; Puerto Rico
- 刊名：Thin Solid Films
- 出版年：2008
- 期刊代码：78_00406090
- 类别：ph
- 出版时间：30 May 2008
- 卷：516
- 期：14
- 页码：4469
- 文件大小：76 K
摘要
In order to assess the extent of xylazine (Xyz) injection in Puerto Rico, two waves of used-syringe collections were performed. In the first, syringes were gathered, anonymously and without additional information; in the second, a short interview, also anonymous, was administered. We found Xyz in 37.6%of the collected syringes; the majority of the Xyz-containing syringes came from ranching communities. Syringes containing Xyz more frequently also contained “speedball” than those without (90.6%and 66.7%, respectively). Self-reports of Xyz injection deviated markedly from actual detection: only 50%(self-described users) and 22%(self-described non-users) of the collected syringes contained the drug. With a high prevalence of skin ulcers (38.5%vs. 6.8%; p < 0.001), Xyz users were more likely to be in poor health compared to non-users. Surprisingly, though a higher percentage of Xyz users than non-users had college-level educations (23.1%vs. 5.5%), they were more likely to be homeless (64.1%vs. 37%).