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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Jun 29, 2006
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American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2003.032698

Health Policy and Ethics

Increased Access to Unrestricted Pharmacy Sales of Syringes in Seattle-King County, Washington: Structural and Individual-Level Changes, 1996 Versus 2003

Ryan J. Deibert 1*, Gary Goldbaum 2, Theodore R. Parker 3, Holly Hagan 4, Robert Marks 2, Michael Hanrahan 2, Hanne Thiede 5

1 Oregon Department of Human Services
2 Public Health - Seattle & King County
3 Pacific Health Inc.
4 National Development and Research Institutes, Inc
5 Public Health - Seattle &King County

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ryan.j.deibert{at}state.or.us.


  Abstract

We examined pharmacists' attitudes and practices related to syringe sales to injection drug users before and after legal reform and local programming to enhance sterile syringe access. We replicated a 1996 study by conducting pharmacist phone surveys and syringe test-buys in randomly selected pharmacies.

Test-buy success increased from 48% in 1996 to 65% in 2003 (P=.04). Pharmacists agreeing that syringes should be available to injection drug users through pharmacy purchase increased from 49% to 71% (P<.01). Pharmacy policies and pharmacist attitudes were strongly associated with syringe access. Structural changes, including policy reform and pharmacy outreach, appear to increase syringe access. Interventions should address pharmacy policies and pharmacist attitudes and policies.

Key Words: Health Law, Health Policy, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Prevention, Drugs






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