Self-reported participation in voluntary nonprescription syringe sales in California's Central Valley.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

California Senate Bill 41 (SB41), effective January 2012, is a human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus prevention measure designed to expand syringe access among injection drug users (IDUs) by allowing pharmacies to sell syringes without a prescription. This study assesses self-reported implementation of SB41 and characterizes barriers amenable to intervention.

Design

Interviewer-administered survey.

Setting and participants

Fresno and Kern Counties, CA. Pharmacists and other pharmacy staff (n = 404) at 212 pharmacies.

Outcome measure

Self-reported nonprescription pharmacy sales to known or suspected IDUs.

Results

Overall, 29.3% of participants said their pharmacy would sell nonprescription syringes to a known or suspected IDU, whereas

SUBMITTER: Pollini RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5668169 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov - Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature