Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SYRINGES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacists' attitudes and concerns regarding syringe sales to injection drug users in Denver, Colorado.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors influencing pharmacists' decisions about selling syringes to injection drug users (IDUs). DESIGN: Audiotaped interviews. SETTING: Denver, Colorado. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two pharmacists at 24 pharmacies. INTERVENTION: One-hour semistructured interviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Practices regarding syringe sales to IDUs and factors influencing the practices. RESULTS: Of the 32 pharmacists interviewed, 16 indicated that they sold syringes to all customers ("pro-sell"), 11 refused to sell unless shown proof of diabetic status ("no-sell"), and 5 were "undecided." Several factors influenced the decision to sell. A perceived conflict between prevention of disease and prevention of drug abuse most clearly distinguished the three categories, with pro-sell pharmacists more likely than others to prioritize disease prevention and believe that syringe sales would not increase drug abuse. Business concerns, such as the effect of the presence of IDUs on other customers and the possibility of discarded syringes around the store, were especially prevalent among no-sell and undecided pharmacists. Seventeen pharmacists did not know about Colorado laws governing syringe sales. Four no-sell pharmacists used the laws to justify their decision not to sell, and two undecided pharmacists said they used the law when they did not want to sell syringes to IDU. All pharmacists supported syringe exchange programs. CONCLUSION: One-half of the pharmacists sold syringes to IDUs, and several more indicated that they would do so if certain concerns were addressed. These data suggest that improved syringe disposal options, continuing education programs, and clarification of existing laws and regulations would encourage more pharmacists in Denver to sell syringes to IDUs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Limited access to syringes for injection drug users in pharmacies in Denver, Colorado.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the availability of syringes for injection drug users (IDUs) from pharmacies in Denver. DESIGN: Single-group, uncontrolled, noncomparative study. SETTING: Denver, Colorado. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 23 randomly selected pharmacies in the Denver metropolitan area and 3 additional pharmacies located near drug-buying locations. INTERVENTION: Attempt by eight trained IDU "research assistants" to purchase packages of 10 U-100 insulin syringes without a prescription from pharmacies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Successful purchase of syringes; reasons for refusal. RESULTS: Of 26 pharmacies, 4 reported not stocking syringes, 3 did not sell syringes to any research assistants, 10 sold to some research assistants but not to others, and 9 sold to all research assistants. Of 206 purchase attempts, 54% were successful. In 37.9% of 95 refusals, the pharmacist reported that syringes were not sold at the store, and in 28.4% the pharmacist refused to sell because the research assistant did not produce diabetic identification or answer insulin-related questions. No differences in pharmacy response were found with respect to the racial or ethnic characteristics of the research assistant. Price varied substantially within and among stores. No pharmacies that sold syringes to research assistants were open 24 hours per day. CONCLUSION: While IDUs who live near a pharmacy that regularly sells syringes and IDUs with a convincing diabetes story may have adequate access to syringes, others face inconsistent availability. Price fluctuations and limited hours of those pharmacies that sell syringes may be additional barriers to access to sterile syringes for IDUs in Denver.

Colorado↗
PubMed2000

Survival of HIV-1 in syringes: effects of temperature during storage.

In a previous paper we demonstrated that HIV-1 survival in syringes was strongly associated with the volume of blood remaining and with the duration of storage at room temperature. The current study was performed to determine the effects of storage temperature upon the survival of HIV-1 inside syringes. At 4 degrees C, 50% of all syringes contained viable HIV-1 at 42 days of storage, the longest storage duration tested. At room temperature (20 degrees C), the last day that syringes with 2 microL of infected blood were positive was Day 21, and viable HIV-1 was recovered from 8% of syringes. The last day on which syringes with 20 microL were positive was Day 42, and viable HIV-1 was recovered from 8% of syringes. Above room temperature (27, 32, and 37 degrees C), the likelihood of encountering syringes with viable HIV-1 when periods of storage exceeded 1 week decreased to less than 1%. The temperatures at which drug injectors are likely to store their used syringes will vary according to climate, season, and circumstances faced by the injector. The survival of HIV-1 in contaminated syringes varied over a range of temperatures, and this may be a factor influencing the syringe-borne transmission of HIV-1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus in needles and syringes used by intravenous drug abusers.

The sharing of needles and syringes by intravenous drug abusers has been recognized as a critical factor in the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In an attempt to reduce the sharing of needles and syringes among intravenous drug abusers, a pilot sterile needle-and-syringe exchange programme was established in an inner city neighbourhood in Sydney. The contents of exchanged syringes were screened for antibody to HIV by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); reactive and borderline samples were tested further by the Western Blot method. Of a sample of 300 needles-and-syringes that were exchanged, three (1%) needles-and-syringes were confirmed as containing antibody-seropositive blood by both ELISA and Western Blot methods and thus as being potentially infectious. As only 70% of known positive-control syringes were detected in this study, the proportion of potentially infectious needles-and-syringes that was found may have underestimated the proportion of infectious injection equipment that was returned. These findings highlight the importance of the removal of used needles and syringes from circulation in addition to the supply of sterile equipment. This method of monitoring exchanged needles-and-syringes is suggested as a means to evaluate measures that are designed to reduce the transmission of HIV among intravenous drug abusers. The rapid implementation of sterile needle-and-syringe exchange programmes is imperative to stem the spread of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of the interaction of selected drugs and plastic syringes.

It is common hospital pharmacy practice to preload syringes with selected drugs and store them ready for use. Because the several components of syringes, (such as barrels, gasket seals, etc.) may vary among manufacturers, there exists the possibility that syringe components of differing provenance might interact e.g., by sorption, with stored drugs to differing degrees. To examine possible interactions, three brands of commercially available syringes were compared to determine what influence, if any, short term storage of injectable solutions might exert on the solutions or the syringes. Four drugs; dexamethasone sodium phosphate, diazepam, diatrizoate meglumine and nitroglycerin USP were individually loaded into 3 mL syringes and stored at temperatures between -20 degrees C and + 25 degrees C for periods from 6 hours to 30 days. The syringes were examined for any gross changes. Drug solutions were analyzed after storage to determine the presence of organic leachates from the syringes and any change from original drug concentration values. No syringes showed gross physical changes after storage with drug solution nor were any drug solutions found to contain leachates on gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic analysis. Drug concentrations were seen to change following storage, the greatest changes occurring with the highly lipophilic drugs dexamethasone and diazepam. In most instances loss of drug concentration was most rapid at room temperature. Although there were clear differences among the three brands of syringe, no overall pattern emerged which might allow the selection or rejection of one syringe over another for the extemporaneous preloading of the drugs examined.

Drug Stability↗
PubMed1989

Stability of alcohol-free theophylline liquid repackaged in plastic oral syringes.

The stability of an alcohol-free liquid theophylline product repackaged and stored in polypropylene oral syringes was studied. A commercially available alcohol-free liquid theophylline preparation was repackaged in the following unit dose syringes: 3- and 10-mL clear polypropylene syringes and 3- and 10-mL amber polypropylene syringes. Fifty syringes of each type were prepared. The 3-mL syringes were filled with 2 mL of theophylline, while the 10-mL syringes were filled with 7 mL of the liquid. All syringes were stored at room temperature under continuous fluorescent lighting. The mean volume of theophylline delivered from six syringes of each type was determined on days 0, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 180 after repackaging. The samples were assayed for theophylline content by high-performance liquid chromatography. The theophylline dose delivered ranged from 96.2% to 101.7% of the initial repackaged dose. The difference in theophylline concentrations remaining among the types of syringes after 180 days of storage was not significant. The volume of theophylline delivered decreased and the concentration increased as a probable result of water evaporation over time. Alcohol-free theophylline liquid repackaged in 3- and 10-mL clear or amber disposable polypropylene unit dose syringes can be stored at room temperature under continuous fluorescent light for at least 180 days.

Drug Stability↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of a multiple-dose syringe pump system for intermittent i.v. drug delivery.

The feasibility of implementing a multiple-dose, multiple-flow-rate syringe pump system in a large teaching institution and a community hospital is described. The new syringe pump system was evaluated on medical and surgical wards in each hospital for a period of time sufficient to evaluate 40 courses of therapy in each hospital. At the time the new syringe pump system was implemented, the teaching hospital was using a gravity-dependent bottle and burette system and the community hospital was using a single-dose syringe pump system. At the end of the study period, the material costs of the existing i.v. infusion systems were compared with the material costs of the new syringe pump system, and the nurses involved in the study were questioned about their attitudes toward the new system. Use of the multiple-dose syringe pump system resulted in a savings of $934.81 in material costs compared with the bottle and burette system and $9.70 in material costs compared with the single-dose syringe pump system (based on 40 doses). When the cost of wasted drug was considered, the cost per day of the multiple-dose syringe pump system was substantially less (70%) than the cost per day of the bottle and burette system and approximately the same as the cost per day for the single-dose syringe pump system. The majority of nurses indicated that the new system was easier or no more difficult to use than the existing i.v. infusion system and were in favor of switching to the new system. Implementation of a multiple-dose, multiple-flow-rate syringe pump system may result in cost savings over a traditional bottle and burette system and could complement an existing single-dose syringe infusion system.

Boston↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dexamethasone phosphate stability and contamination of solutions stored in syringes.

The stability of 10 mg/mL dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection was evaluated using a validated, stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method during 91 days storage in glass and 55 days storage in plastic syringes with rubber plungers. The presence of accelerators, commonly used in the manufacture of rubber, mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), tetramethyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) and tetraethyl thiuram disulfide (TETD), was monitored on day 101 and after 18 months storage. During the 91-day study period there was no significant trend for dexamethasone phosphate concentrations in Glaspak syringes to decrease in solutions stored at room temperature or 4 degrees C. The concentration remaining in each syringe on the final day of analysis was greater than 95% of the initial concentration. In Monject plastic syringes there was no significant decrease in the dexamethasone phosphate concentration over 35 days with 1 mL syringes or 55 days with 3 mL syringes at either room temperature or 4 degrees C. The concentration remaining in each syringe on the final day of analysis was greater than 93% of the initial concentration. Analysis of samples for leachates on day 101 failed to demonstrate any contamination. However, re-analysis of the syringes following 18 months storage indicated contamination by a number of compounds. The results indicate that sorption of dexamethasone phosphate to the syringe barrel or plunger did not occur to a clinically important degree. We conclude that dexamethasone phosphate solutions (10 mg/mL) stored at 4 degrees C or 23 degrees C for up to 91 days in Glaspak syringes or 55 days in plastic Monject syringes will retain more than 93% of the initial dexamethasone concentration. Furthermore after 101 days there was no measurable contamination of the dexamethasone phosphate solution, although after 18 months considerable contamination was observed.

Chromatography, Liquid↗
PubMed1998

Adsorption of some technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals onto disposable plastic syringes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the adsorption behavior of some widely used, commercially available 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals onto different types of plastic syringes. METHODS: Kits were reconstituted with 99mTc-pertechnetate diluted with 0.9% saline to produce maximum radioactive concentrations, as stated by the manufacturers. Aliquots of the solutions were transferred to four different brands of 2-ml syringes. The activity in the syringes was measured before and after injections or simulated injections. The amount adsorbed to the plastic syringe barrel and plunger before and after washout also was measured at different time intervals. Comparisons between products from different manufacturers were made for 99mTc succimer (DMSA) and 99mTc macroaggregated albumin (MAA). RESULTS: Some 99mTC preparations undergo significant adsorption to plastic syringes. Adsorption differs considerably between products from different manufacturers. There was significantly higher residual activity in some types of syringes. In some cases the residual was as high as 40%-50% of the initial activity, and most of the adsorption occurred within 15 min of filling the syringe. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the extent of adsorption depends on pharmaceutical excipients in the kits and/or the type of syringe used. When inappropriate syringes are used, the reduction in the administered activity may result in poor-quality images. Therefore, the compatibility between radiopharmaceutical and syringe should be investigated under normal conditions of preparation and use every time a new brand of syringe or a new radiopharmaceutical comes into use in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1996

Role of syringeal muscles in controlling the phonology of bird song.

1. The contribution of syringeal muscles to controlling the phonology of song was studied by recording bilateral airflow, subsyringeal air sac pressure, electromyograms (EMGs) of six syringeal muscles, and vocal output in spontaneously singing brown thrashers (Toxostoma rufum). 2. EMG activity in musculus syringealis ventralis (vS), the largest syringeal muscle, increases exponentially with the fundamental frequency of the ipsilaterally generated sound and closely parallels frequency modulation. 3. The EMG activity of other syringeal muscles is also positively correlated with sound frequency, but the amplitude of their EMGs changes only a small amount compared with variation in the amplitude of their EMGs correlated with changing syringeal resistance. The elevated activity in all syringeal muscles during high-frequency sounds may reflect an increased need for structural stability during the strong contractions of the largest syringeal muscle (vS). 4. Several syringeal mechanisms are used to generate amplitude modulation (AM). The most common of these involves modulating the rate of syringeal airflow, through activity by adductor (m. syringealis dorsalis and m. tracheobronchialis dorsalis) and abductor (m. tracheobronchialis ventralis) muscles, which change syringeal resistance, switch sound production from one side of the syrinx to the other, or produce rapid oscillatory flow changes. Variation in the phase relationship between AM and EMG bursts during oscillatory airflow suggests complex biomechanical interaction between antagonistic muscles. 5. AM can also arise from acoustic interactions of two independently generated sounds (beat notes) including cross talk signals between the two syringeal halves. In this latter mechanism, sound generated on one side radiates slightly out of phase with the source from the contralateral side, resulting in lateralized AM generation.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2004

[Evaluation of a pilot study on needle and syringe exchange program among injecting drug users in a community in Guangdong, China].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of needle and syringe exchange program among a community of injecting drug users (IDUs) on AIDS prevention. METHODS: A quasi-experiment design was used in a controlled community intervention study. Needle and syringe exchange program was implemented for 10 months in IDUs of an intervention community, including peer education and health education, provision of free needles and syringes, and collecting back of used needles and syringes by trained peer educators and local health workers, whereas no intervention measure in a control community was instituted. Interviews with IDUs were conducted before and after intervention with a snowballing strategy to evaluate its effectiveness. RESULTS: A total of 428 and 429 IDUs were interviewed with structured questionnaire before and after intervention in intervention and control communities, respectively. Results revealed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge increased from 29.4% to 58.7% in the intervention community. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge was higher in those who had read health education materials (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.12 - 4.04). As compared with the baseline data, frequency of sharing needles and syringes in past 30 days in the intervention community decreased from 48.9% to 20.4% in before intervention community (chi(2) = 41.02, P = 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in the control community. The causes of sharing needles and syringes in the intervention community included 'disable to get needle and syringe during the night', 'lack of needle and syringe when injecting at friend's home', 'not daring to buy needle and syringe for fear of being arrested' and 'no money to buy needle and syringe', declined markedly. CONCLUSIONS: Needle and syringe exchange program was feasible and effective in reducing their risky drug injecting behavior among IDUs in communities. Such strategy should be adopted in the country to reduce rapid spread of HIV.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The accuracy and variability of bolus injections with different sized syringes.

The accuracy of bolus injections using different sized syringes was studied. A 1 ml bolus was delivered from a 1 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, and a 20 ml syringe (n = 205). The 1 ml syringe was the most accurate (P less than 0.001) and the bolus delivered was the least variable (P less than 0.001). Variability increased as syringe size increased. A 3 ml bolus was delivered from a 3 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, and a 20 ml syringe (n = 164). The 5 ml syringe was the most accurate (P less than 0.05) and the 3 ml and 5 ml syringes delivered a bolus with the least variability (P less than 0.001). A 5 ml bolus was delivered from a 5 ml, 10 ml, and a 20 ml syringe (n = 123); in this case there was no significant difference in the accuracy or variability of bolus among the three syringes. We conclude that for accuracy of small volume boluses (less than 5 ml), small-sized syringes should be used.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative evaluation of 3 types of syringes routinely used for arterial gas analysis].

This prospective study evaluates the practical utility of a special plastic syringe for collecting arterial blood samples for gasometry, comparing it to a glass syringe and a conventional plastic one, in 120 patients who came to our hospital for arterial blood analysis for a variety of reasons. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to type of syringe assigned. Technicians with experience in the technique prepared the syringes and collected the arterial blood samples after providing local anesthesia. The results showed that the special plastic syringe took less time (p < 0.05) to prepare than did the glass or conventional plastic ones. The differences were quite small, however, in absolute terms, with the special syringe requiring 17 seconds less than the glass syringe and 6 seconds less than the plastic one; the practical importance is therefore slight. No other advantages of the special syringe were observed. No patient required more than one puncture to obtain a valid arterial blood sample, the extraction times (time between arterial puncture until end of process) were similar in the three groups of patients, and the presence of post-puncture hematoma was rare in all groups. There were no differences in level of pain reported (on an analog scale) and the subjective quality of the radial pulse wave was good and similar in all three groups. In conclusion, these results show that use of the special syringe offers no important practical advantages for experienced technicians that would justify the higher price. In fact, as the conventional plastic syringes are cheaper, disposable and similarly effective in expert hands, our results suggest that their routine use for collecting arterial blood gas samples can help improve the cost-benefit ratio for a common procedure in pulmonary function units.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1989

A pressure and volume-limited inflation syringe.

Excessive pressures generated in balloon-tipped pulmonary artery (PA) catheters, which have migrated distally, contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with their use. A simple syringe modification is described by which additional dead space is added to the inflation syringe. The volume of injected gas is also increased to compensate for the dead space, thus ensuring correct balloon inflation. The added dead space acts as a compression chamber should normal balloon inflation be restricted (Safety Syringe). An additional modification is described in which the syringe nozzle is reduced to a pinhole, thus decreasing the rate of gas escape and lessening the possibility of rapid lateral impact of the balloon on the PA wall (Super Safety Syringe). The syringes were compared with a standard volume-limited syringe. Pressures were recorded at the intraluminal site of balloon contact in rigid tubes, live porcine PA, and human cadaver PA. The Safety Syringe consistently generated pressures of less than 975 mmHg, the lowest pressure at which human PA rupture has been demonstrated, under the most adverse simulated clinical conditions. The currently used volume-limited syringe generated a pressure of approximately 1500 mmHg when balloon inflation was restricted, and in one human cadaver PA, produced rupture. The pinhole modification of the Super Safety Syringe increased the time to generate maximum pressure from less than 0.25 s to about 1.5 s.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1998

Detection of HIV-1 nucleic acid and HIV-1 antibodies in needles and syringes used for non-intravenous injection.

BACKGROUND: HIV antibodies and HIV DNA have been detected in needles and syringes that have been used for intravenous injections in HIV-infected persons. During intravenous injection, blood is typically aspirated into the lumen of the syringe. During intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, however, blood is not usually introduced into the syringe. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence of HIV antibodies, HIV proviral DNA, HIV RNA, and human DNA in needles and syringes that had been used for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection in persons known to have HIV infection. METHODS: Discarded disposable needles and syringes used by health-care personnel for medically indicated intramuscular or subcutaneous injections of HIV-infected patients were collected. Residual material was extracted from the syringes. The extracts were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for the presence of HIV antibodies. PCR was conducted to detect HIV and human DNA, as well as HIV RNA. RESULTS: HIV antibodies were detected in 16 (6.2%) out of 260 syringes. Human DNA or HIV-specific DNA were not detected. A second set of 80 syringes was collected to examine the presence of HIV RNA. HIV RNA was detected in three (3.8%) out of 80 syringes. CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates that the risk of transmitting HIV from syringes that have been used for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection may be low, but is not zero.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed2001

Adsorption of radiopharmaceuticals to syringes leads to lower administered activity than intended.

In this study we examined the delivered activity of radiopharmaceuticals injected into patients and the various factors which lead to incomplete delivery. Four commonly used 99Tcm radiopharmaceuticals were included, namely pertechnetate, methylene diphosphonate (MDP), macro-aggregated albumin (MAA) and tetrofosmin. There was no appreciable residual activity after injection of pertechnetate and MDP other than that due to the dead space in syringes (0.06 ml, 4% of measured activity). However, there was considerable residual activity following an MAA injection. This was particularly dependent on the radiopharmaceutical residence time in the syringe prior to injection. If MAA was pre-dispensed there was up to 80% of activity remaining in the syringe following injection. We have shown that this activity is not bound and can be decreased by agitating the syringe prior to the injection. For tetrofosmin, the activity remaining in the syringe was shown to be mostly due to adsorption of the tetrofosmin onto the plastic syringe (up to 30% of the activity); in particular, onto the rubber plunger. The amount of binding probably depends on the formulation of the rubber plunger and the plastic barrel, which varies between manufacturers. Of the three commonly used syringe brands (Becton-Dickinson, Sherwood, and Braun syringes) the Braun syringes were shown to have the least binding (6%) and would be most suitable for tetrofosmin injection. We recommend the use of Braun syringes for tetrofosmin. We also recommend that pre-dispensed MAA injections should be gently agitated before injection into the patient. No special precautions are necessary for pertechnetate or MDP injections.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1998

Cost and cost-effectiveness of increasing access to sterile syringes and needles as an HIV prevention intervention in the United States.

We determined the cost of increasing access of injection drug users (IDUs) to sterile syringes and needles as an HIV prevention intervention in the United States and the cost per HIV infection averted by such a program. We considered a hypothetical cohort of 1 million active IDUs in the United States. Standard methods were used to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of policies to increase access to sterile syringes and syringe disposal at various levels of coverage (e.g., a 100% coverage level would ensure access to a sterile syringe for each injection given current levels of illicit drug injection in the United States; a 50% coverage level would ensure access to one half of the required syringes). A mathematical model of HIV transmission was employed to link programmatic coverage levels with estimates of numbers of HIV infections averted. A policy of funding syringe exchange programs, pharmacy sales, and syringe disposal to cover all illicit drug injections would cost just over $423 million U.S. for 1 year. One third of these costs would be paid for as out-of-pocket expenditures by IDUs purchasing syringes in pharmacies. Compared with the status quo, this policy would cost an estimated $34,278 U.S. per HIV infection averted, a figure well under the estimated lifetime costs of medical care for a person with HIV infection. At very high levels of coverage (>88%), the marginal cost-effectiveness of increased program coverage becomes less favorable. Although the total costs of funding large-scale IDU access to sterile syringes and disposal seem high, the economic benefits are substantial. Even at high levels of coverage, such funding would save society money. As part of a comprehensive program of HIV prevention, policies to increase IDUs access to sterile syringes urgently need further consideration by public health decision makers.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2001

Impact of pharmacy-based syringe access on injection practices among injecting drug users in Minnesota, 1998 to 1999.

In Minnesota, state legislation, enacted July 1998, provided for voluntary pharmacy sales of syringes/needles without a prescription for an accompanying drug. The goal was to stem HIV transmission among injecting drug users (IDUs) by providing greater access to sterile syringes. We used a pre/post evaluation design to investigate the impact of less restrictive syringe/possession laws on IDUs' HIV-related syringe practices. Independent cross-sectional samples of IDUs were recruited from street sites and a correctional facility immediately before and 1 year after enactment of the laws. Of the 671 IDUs interviewed, 570 (270 prelegislation and 300 postlegislation) had injected at least once in the 30 days before the interview. IDUs were more likely to purchase syringes at pharmacies after enactment of the laws (odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-3.85), yet did not change their behaviors regarding carrying unused syringes (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.63-1.28). After adjusting for speedball injection and criminal history, syringe sharing decreased among IDUs (adjusted OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-1.00) yet syringe reuse remained the same (adjusted OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.40-1.11). Safe disposal of syringes did not differ significantly across the sampling periods (adjusted OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.84-2.06). Increased access to pharmacy syringes offers a first step at reducing HIV-related syringe practices but must be coupled with strong HIV prevention messages, drug treatment referrals, and safe syringe disposal options.

Adolescent↗