Table 2 Obtaining and disposing of syringes in the Last 30 days among PWID from Xichang, China 2012 (n = 403)
Sources of syringes | Syringes disposal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Source | No. (%) | Syringes usually obtained median(range)* | Source | No. (%) |
Pharmacy | 327(81.1) | 6(1–180) | Throwing syringes away | 302(74.7) |
Medical facility | 93(23.1) | 6(1–500) | Left syringes where they injected | 98(24.3) |
Someone else obtain syringes from pharmacy | 48(11.9) | 3(1–100) | Buried or burned syringes | 72(17.9) |
NEP | 36(8.9) | 10(2–100) | Brought syringes to a NEP | 20(5.0) |
Syringe seller/drug dealer | 25(6.2) | 4.5(1–50) | Put syringes in a sharps container, or soda or laundry bottle, then threw it away | 20(5.0) |
Bought from a friend, relative, or acquaintance (PWID or non-PWID) | 10(2.5) | 5(2–20) | Gave syringes to someone else to take to a NEP for them | 18(4.5) |
Received free from a friend, relative or acquaintance (PWID or non-PWID) | 10(2.5) | 5(1–25) | Gave syringes to an outreach worker or peer educator | 10(2.5) |
From someone who said they got them at a NEP | 6(1.5) | 10(1–50) | Brought syringes to a pharmacy | 1(0.2) |
From an outreach worker | 2(0.5) | 21.5(8–35) | - |  |
Used prescription for syringes because of diabetic or other medical condition | 1(0.2) | 20(20–20) | - |  |