TABLE 3.
Level of Potential Harm Associated with Self-Management of Injection-Related Wounds by Demographic and Drug Use Characteristics of 82 Injecting Drug Users
| Characteristic | More Potential Harm N (%) | Less Potential Harm N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 15 | 67 |
| Male gender | 13 (92.9)* | 48 (71.6) |
| Black race | 13 (86.7) | 63 (94.0) |
| Current age > 50 years | 7 (46.7) | 23 (34.3) |
| Completed high school or obtained G.E.D. | 6 (40.0) | 39 (58.2) |
| First injected drugs at < 20 years of age | 9 (60.0) | 41 (61.2) |
| Have ever injected heroin | 15 (100.0) | 67 (100.0) |
| Have ever injected cocaine | 12 (80.0) | 52 (77.6) |
| Have ever injected amphetamines | 7 (46.7)** | 9 (13.4) |
| Have ever injected intravenously | 15 (100.0) | 67 (100.0) |
| Have ever injected intramuscularly | 12 (80.0) | 43 (64.2) |
| Have ever injected subcutaneously | 12 (80.0) | 58 (86.6) |
| Have ever booted or “kicked”a | 13 (86.7) | 63 (94.0) |
| Have ever reused needle | 13 (86.7)* | 66 (98.5) |
| Have ever injected with others’ used needle | 10 (66.7) | 37 (55.2) |
a
Booting or “kicking” refers to withdrawing blood into the syringe before injecting drugs or after injecting and then re-injecting without removing the needle.
P < .20.
*
P < .05.