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Factors associated with likelihood of initiating others into injection drug use among people who inject drugs in West Virginia
Allen, S. T., Schneider, K. E., Mazhnaya, A., White, R. H., O'Rourke, A., Kral, A. H., Bluthenthal, R. N., Kilkenny, M. E., & Sherman, S. G. (2022). Factors associated with likelihood of initiating others into injection drug use among people who inject drugs in West Virginia. AIDS and Behavior, 26(1), 47-56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03325-6
People who inject drugs (PWID) play a critical role in injection-naïve individuals transitioning to injection drug use. We investigated factors associated with future likelihood of initiating injection-naïve individuals using multivariable logistic regression among 418 PWID in rural Appalachia (Cabell County, West Virginia). Less than 10% reported they were likely to initiate someone in the future. Acquiring syringes from a syringe services program was associated with decreased odds of being likely to initiate someone in the future (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.46, 95% CI 0.23, 0.95), while having previously initiated someone into injection drug use was associated with increased odds (aOR 8.65, 95% CI 4.07, 18.41). Among our sample of PWID in Appalachia, a small proportion reported that they would be likely to initiate an injection-naïve individual in the future. Efforts to reduce injection initiation assistance should focus on this subpopulation of PWID who indicate a willingness to engage in this behavior.
