Table 1.
Sample characteristics of people who inject drugs, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, 2011–13 (N=605)
| Characteristic | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Male | 447 (74%) |
| Age | |
| <29 | 66 (11%) |
| 30 to 39 | 65 (10%) |
| 40–49 | 165 (27%) |
| 50 or more | 309 (51%) |
| Race | |
| White | 216 (36%) |
| African American | 206 (34%) |
| Hispanic | 114 (19%) |
| All others | 64 (11%) |
| High school or equivalent education or more – Yes | 395 (65%) |
| Born in the US – Yes | 577 (95%) |
| Gay, lesbian, or bisexual – Yes | 99 (16%) |
| Any US military service - Yes | 67 (11%) |
| Currently homeless – Yes | 384 (64%) |
| HIV positive – Yes | 41 (7%) |
| Recruitment Site | |
| San Francisco | 297 (49%) |
| Los Angeles | 308 (51%) |
| Monthly income | |
| <$1,351 | 487 (81%) |
| $1,351 plus | 115 (19%) |
| Major Income source, last 30 days | |
| Welfare | 209 (35%) |
| Supplemental Security Income | 218 (36%) |
| Recycling | 151 (25%) |
| Illegal or possibly illegal source | 235 (39%) |
| Panhandling | 169 (28%) |
| Injection drug use, last 30 days | |
| Crack cocaine | 58 (10%) |
| Powder cocaine | 73 (12%) |
| Methamphetamine | 238 (39%) |
| Heroin | 477 (79%) |
| Opiate prescription medication | 69 (11%) |
| Injection frequency, last 30 days | |
| Less than once a day | 298 (49%) |
| Once or twice a day | 169 (28%) |
| Three times or more a day | 138 (23%) |
| Years of drug injection | |
| <10 years | 91 (16%) |
| 10 to 19 years | 98 (16%) |
| 20 or more years | 396 (68%) |
| Initiation of non-injectors | |
| Ever | 212 (35%) |
| Last 12 months | 44 (7%) |