Table 4.
Reasons for smoking heroin
| |
Sex |
Age (years) |
Total |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
M |
F |
19–29 |
30–39 |
40+ |
|
| ( N = 88) | ( N = 24) | ( N = 32) | ( N = 50) | ( N = 30) | ( N = 112) | |
| Curiosity |
51.1% |
41.7% |
62.5% |
42.0% |
46.7% |
49.1% |
| Healthier than injection |
56.8% |
66.7% |
53.1% |
60.0% |
63.3% |
58.9% |
| Lower risk of HIV and hepatitis |
34.1% |
41.7% |
34.4% |
40.0% |
30.0% |
35.7% |
| Lower costs |
9.1% |
4.2% |
18.8% |
4.0% |
3.3% |
8.0% |
| Quicker alleviation of withdrawal symptoms |
15.9% |
8.3% |
12.5% |
18.0% |
10.0% |
14.3% |
| Veins need a break |
30.7% |
29.2% |
28.1% |
22.0% |
46.7% |
30.4% |
| No sterile syringes available |
4.5% |
4.2% |
6.3% |
6.0% |
.0% |
4.5% |
| Avoidance of overdose |
36.4% |
25.0% |
46.9% |
28.0% |
30.0% |
33.9% |
| Recommended by others | 18.2% | 20.8% | 28.1% | 12.0% | 20.0% | 18.8% |