Utilization of Kentucky Syringe Service Programs in a Justice-Involved Sample of People Who Inject Drugs

Abstract

Residents of Kentucky are at-risk for harms related to the opioid epidemic and involvement in the criminal legal system (CLS) further increases those risks. In 2015, Kentucky legalized syringe service programs (SSPs) to provide low-threshold access to harm reduction services including syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, and linkage to care. The Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations (Gelberg et al., 2000) was used to investigate factors associated with SSP utilization among people who inject drugs involved in the CLS in Kentucky. One traditional predisposing factor (high school education/GED), one vulnerable need factor (injection drug use in the six months prior to incarceration), two traditional enabling factors (access to public transportation, incarceration after SSPs legalized for one year), and one vulnerable enabling (having used naloxone on someone else) were associated with SSP utilization. Results of this study highlight future directions for research on SSP utilization among people who are involved in the CLS.