Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys
Abstract Background Syringe service programs (SSPs) provide tools to people who inject drugs (PWID) to prevent overdose, reduce the risk of HIV and HCV infection, and reduce injection frequency. While effective, previous research suggests that SSPs may not adequately reach some marginalized or parti...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00868-w |
| _version_ | 1827635028651147264 |
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| author | Katheryn Salow Helen E. Jack Joe Tinsley Caleb J. Banta-Green Susan Kingston Matthew Iles-Shih Judith I. Tsui Sara Glick |
| author_facet | Katheryn Salow Helen E. Jack Joe Tinsley Caleb J. Banta-Green Susan Kingston Matthew Iles-Shih Judith I. Tsui Sara Glick |
| author_sort | Katheryn Salow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Syringe service programs (SSPs) provide tools to people who inject drugs (PWID) to prevent overdose, reduce the risk of HIV and HCV infection, and reduce injection frequency. While effective, previous research suggests that SSPs may not adequately reach some marginalized or particularly vulnerable subpopulations of PWID. Methods To identify disparities in SSP use, data from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in King County, Washington were compared: a survey of SSP clients and a community survey of PWID in King County. It was hypothesized that Black PWID, women, and gender minorities would be underrepresented in the SSP survey relative to the general population of PWID. Results SSP clients identified as White at a significantly higher rate than the community sample of PWID (p = 0.030). Black (p < 0.001), American Indian/Alaska Native (p < 0.001), Latinx/Hispanic (p = 0.009), and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander PWID (p = 0.034) were underrepresented in the SSP client survey. The gender of SSP clients was similar to the distribution seen in the community sample of PWID (p = 0.483). Conclusions Black PWID are underrepresented in Seattle-area SSPs, consistent with studies in other large US cities. Both nationally and in Seattle, overdose deaths have been increasing among Black PWID, and harm reduction strategies are vital to reversing this trend. SSPs should explore and test ways to be more accessible to minority populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-780b4df17cb1402d906ebf6ab390bbe8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-780b4df17cb1402d906ebf6ab390bbe82023-11-26T12:44:43ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172023-09-012011710.1186/s12954-023-00868-wRacial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveysKatheryn Salow0Helen E. Jack1Joe Tinsley2Caleb J. Banta-Green3Susan Kingston4Matthew Iles-Shih5Judith I. Tsui6Sara Glick7School of Medicine, University of WashingtonDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of WashingtonHIV/STI/HCV Program, Public Health–Seattle & King CountyDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute, School of Medicine, University of WashingtonDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute, School of Medicine, University of WashingtonDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of WashingtonDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of WashingtonHIV/STI/HCV Program, Public Health–Seattle & King CountyAbstract Background Syringe service programs (SSPs) provide tools to people who inject drugs (PWID) to prevent overdose, reduce the risk of HIV and HCV infection, and reduce injection frequency. While effective, previous research suggests that SSPs may not adequately reach some marginalized or particularly vulnerable subpopulations of PWID. Methods To identify disparities in SSP use, data from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in King County, Washington were compared: a survey of SSP clients and a community survey of PWID in King County. It was hypothesized that Black PWID, women, and gender minorities would be underrepresented in the SSP survey relative to the general population of PWID. Results SSP clients identified as White at a significantly higher rate than the community sample of PWID (p = 0.030). Black (p < 0.001), American Indian/Alaska Native (p < 0.001), Latinx/Hispanic (p = 0.009), and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander PWID (p = 0.034) were underrepresented in the SSP client survey. The gender of SSP clients was similar to the distribution seen in the community sample of PWID (p = 0.483). Conclusions Black PWID are underrepresented in Seattle-area SSPs, consistent with studies in other large US cities. Both nationally and in Seattle, overdose deaths have been increasing among Black PWID, and harm reduction strategies are vital to reversing this trend. SSPs should explore and test ways to be more accessible to minority populations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00868-wSyringe service programNeedle exchangeRacial disparitiesDemographicsInjection drug use |
| spellingShingle | Katheryn Salow Helen E. Jack Joe Tinsley Caleb J. Banta-Green Susan Kingston Matthew Iles-Shih Judith I. Tsui Sara Glick Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys Harm Reduction Journal Syringe service program Needle exchange Racial disparities Demographics Injection drug use |
| title | Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys |
| title_full | Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys |
| title_fullStr | Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys |
| title_short | Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys |
| title_sort | racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in king county wa a comparison of two cross sectional surveys |
| topic | Syringe service program Needle exchange Racial disparities Demographics Injection drug use |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00868-w |
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