Table 2.
Factors associated with self-reported nonprescription syringes to IDUs, Fresno and Kern counties
| Total N=386 (%) |
Sell to IDUs N=113 (%) |
Do not sell to IDUs N=273 (%) |
p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (IQR) | 34 (28–47) | 35 (30–43) | 34 (28–51) | .968 |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 164 (42.7) | 53 (46.9) | 111 (40.7) | .283 |
| Female | 220 (57.3) | 60 (53.1) | 160 (58.6) | |
| Pharmacist | ||||
| Yes | 192 (49.7) | 65 (57.5) | 127 (46.5) | .049 |
| No | 194 (50.3) | 48 (42.5) | 146 (53.5) | |
| Pharmacy type | ||||
| Chain | 281 (89.4) | 101 (89.4) | 180 (65.9) | <.001 |
| Independent/other | 105 (27.2) | 12 (10.6) | 93 (34.1) | |
| Number of pharmacists at location (IQR) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–4) | .936 |
| Sales policies based on: | ||||
| Store policy only | 172 (45.6) | 34 (31.2) | 138 (51.5) | <.001 |
| Discretion only | 46 (12.2) | 12 (11.0) | 34 (12.7) | |
| Both | 159 (42.2) | 63 (57.8) | 96 (35.8) | |
| Agree/strongly agree that: | ||||
| It is legal for IDUs ≥18 years old to purchase a syringe in a pharmacy without a prescription | 236 (61.1) | 94 (83.2) | 142 (52.0) | <.001 |
| Selling syringes to IDUs prevents infections like HIV and HCV | 325 (84.2) | 101 (89.4) | 224 (82.1) | .072 |
| Only people who have a medical condition like diabetes should be able to buy syringes | 207 (53.6) | 34 (30.1) | 173 (63.4) | <.001 |
| I am concerned that providing syringes to IDUs encourages drug use. | 233 (60.4) | 47 (41.6) | 186 (68.1) | <.001 |
| IDUs are a disruption to my pharmacy | 155 (40.2) | 34 (30.1) | 121 (44.3) | .009 |
| Selling syringes to IDUs is not good business for pharmacies like mine | 201 (52.1) | 31 (27.4) | 170 (62.3) | <.001 |
| Pharmacies that sell syringes to IDUs should provide information on how to get drug treatment | 316 (81.9) | 91 (80.5) | 225 (82.4) | .662 |
| Pharmacies that sell syringes to IDUs should provide information on how to prevent infection with HIV/HCV | 338 (87.6) | 96 (85.0) | 242 (88.6) | .318 |
| Pharmacies can be an important resource for IDUs who may not access health care in the community | 317 (82.1) | 100 (88.5) | 217 (79.5) | .036 |
| I am willing to provide information/resources to IDUs who purchase syringes at my pharmacy | 324 (83.9) | 104 (92.0) | 220 (80.6) | .005 |
| I am concerned that some people purchasing syringes without a prescription would feel uncomfortable if given HIV related information/resources | 264 (68.4) | 68 (60.2) | 196 (71.8) | .025 |
| I am concerned that some people purchasing syringes without a prescription would feel uncomfortable if given information on how to access drug treatment | 268 (69.4) | 68 (60.2) | 200 (73.3) | .011 |