Circumstances of first injection and factors driving or deterring injection initiation among males with opioid use disorder

ABSTRACT Background: Opioid use through injection drug use is associated with a significant global health burden. In most patients, injection drug use is initiated after a transition period of 1–5 years.

Aim

To assess the circumstances involving the first injection of drugs and the reasons for transitioning to injection drug use among injection drug users with opioid use disorder. Materials and Methods: One hundred males seeking treatment for opioid use disorders at a tertiary care drug dependence treatment center in North India were recruited through purposive sampling, comprising 50 injection drug users (IDU) and 50 noninjecting opioid users (NIOU). A semistructured proforma was used to obtain information about the circumstances of first injection and reasons for transition to injection drug use among IDU ( n = 50). Reasons preventing this transition among the NIOUs ( n = 50) were also assessed.