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Can Difficult-to-Reuse Syringes Reduce the Spread of HIV Among Injection Drug Users?

Author

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  • Jonathan P. Caulkins

    (Carnegie Mellon University, Heinz School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3890)

  • Edward H. Kaplan

    (Yale School of Management, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8200)

  • Peter Lurie

    (Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California 94105)

  • Thomas O'Connor

    (5612 Maryland, #2, Chicago, Illinois 60637)

  • Sung-Ho Ahn

    (RAND, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138)

Abstract

Sharing of syringes by injection drug users is a principal means by which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spread. Some have suggested that distributing syringes that are difficult to reuse (DTR) would slow the spread of HIV. We developed a simple mathematical model that describes how changes in the numbers of DTR syringes or regular syringes consumed over the course of a fixed number of injections affects the proportion of injections that are potentially infectious and, thus, the transmission of HIV. It suggests that increasing consumption of either type of syringe will reduce the proportion of potentially infectious injections, but that, per syringe added, the reduction is always greater if a regular rather than a DTR syringe is added. Similarly, introducing a certain number of DTR syringes and simultaneously reducing the consumption of regular syringes by the same number will increase, not decrease, the proportion of infectious injections. DTR syringes are more expensive than regular syringes, so there is little justification for substituting them for regular syringes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan P. Caulkins & Edward H. Kaplan & Peter Lurie & Thomas O'Connor & Sung-Ho Ahn, 1998. "Can Difficult-to-Reuse Syringes Reduce the Spread of HIV Among Injection Drug Users?," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 28(3), pages 23-33, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:28:y:1998:i:3:p:23-33
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.28.3.23
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holmberg, S.D., 1996. "The estimated prevalence and incidence of HIV in 96 large US metropolitan areas," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 86(5), pages 642-654.
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