This study will capitalize on the opportunity for a """"""""natural experiment"""""""" in HIV prevention to assess the implementation of a new syringe access law, Senate Bill 41 (SB41), in the inland counties of California's Central Valley. Injection drug use rates in the Central Valley's southern counties are among the highest in the U.S. and contribute substantially to the region's HIV epidemic. SB41, which went into effect on January 1, 2012, allows pharmacies to sell up to 30 syringes without a prescription. Although the law has the potential to greatly expand syringe access in inland California's predominantly rural and Latino counties, which have thus far been greatly underserved by other syringe access programs, syringe sales under the law are voluntary and it is unclear to what extent pharmacies will participate. Our study will use an innovative mixed methods approach to (1) assess pharmacy implementation of this new over-the counter (OTC) syringe law, (2) characterize utilization of OTC syringe sales by injection drug users (IDUs) under the law, and 3) examine structural factors associated with both pharmacy implementation and IDU utilization. The study will be conducted in two counties, Fresno and Kern, using a three-phase approach to address factors at all three levels of the HIV """"""""risk environment."""""""" In Phase I, we will conduct a syringe purchase trial (N=298), a brief pharmacy survey (N=596), and key informant interviews (N=32) to assess pharmacies'implementation of the law and characterize related barriers and facilitators. In Phase II, we will conduct an IDU survey (N=550) to understand IDU uptake of OTC syringe purchase under the law and identify related barriers and facilitators. In Phase III, we will conduct geospatial/contextual modeling to complement findings from Phases I &II and elucidate structural factors that influence SB41's impact. At the conclusion of our study, we will have generated a comprehensive understanding of the factors that facilitate and impede SB41's success as an HIV prevention tool. This information will assist the communities of inland California in developing multi-level strategies to optimize OTC syringe sales, reduce syringe sharing, and prevent HIV transmission among IDUs.

Public Health Relevance

Sterile syringe access plays a critical role in efforts to prevent HIV among injection drug users. California Senate Bill 41, which went into effect on January 1, 2012, was designed to expand sterile syringe access by allowing pharmacies to sell up to 30 syringes without a prescription. This study assesses the implementation of SB41 in the inland counties of California's Central Valley, a predominantly rural and Latino area that has some of the highest rates of injection drug use in the United States.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA035098-02
Application #
8601068
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Science Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSPH)
Program Officer
Jenkins, Richard A
Project Start
2013-01-01
Project End
2016-12-31
Budget Start
2014-01-01
Budget End
2014-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$605,811
Indirect Cost
$186,870
Name
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Department
Type
DUNS #
021883350
City
Beltsville
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20705
Paquette, Catherine E; Pollini, Robin A (2018) Injection drug use, HIV/HCV, and related services in nonurban areas of the United States: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend 188:239-250
Paquette, Catherine E; Syvertsen, Jennifer L; Pollini, Robin A (2018) Stigma at every turn: Health services experiences among people who inject drugs. Int J Drug Policy 57:104-110
Syvertsen, Jennifer L; Paquette, Catherine E; Pollini, Robin A (2017) Down in the valley: Trajectories of injection initiation among young injectors in California's Central Valley. Int J Drug Policy 44:41-49
Pollini, Robin A (2017) Self-reported participation in voluntary nonprescription syringe sales in California's Central Valley. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 57:677-685
Pollini, Robin A; Rudolph, Abby E; Case, Patricia (2015) Nonprescription syringe sales: a missed opportunity for HIV prevention in California. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 55:31-40