Courtney A McKnight
Courtney A McKnight
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Clinical Associate Professor of Epidemiology
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Professional overview
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Dr. Courtney McKnight is a Principal Investigator specializing in mixed methods research focused on the epidemiology of drug use, opioid overdose, HIV and HCV infection. Dr. McKnight has over 20 years of experience conducting public health research related to drug use, as well as field experience as a harm reduction service provider.
Prior to joining NYU, Dr. McKnight served as the assistant director of research at the Chemical Dependency Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was an investigator and project director on numerous federally funded research studies, including evaluations of syringe services programs; investigations of the drivers that contribute to disparate rates of HIV and HCV; and interventions to increase access to HIV and HCV testing and care.
Previous to Dr. McKnight’s work in research, she directed a harm reduction program for women who use drugs and volunteered at a syringe services program in New Jersey.
Dr. McKnight received her DrPH from the City University of New York Graduate Center, her Master of Public Health from Hunter College, and her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Rutgers University. Her dissertation examined the impact of Medicaid coverage of methadone and buprenorphine on treatment access for opioid dependent beneficiaries.
Dr. McKnight’s current research interests include examining the shifting landscape of illicit opioids, including the increasing prevalence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, and risk environments of people who use drugs.
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Education
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BA, Women's Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJMPH, Community Health Education, Hunter College, New York, NYDrPH, The City University of New York, New York, NY
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Areas of research and study
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Behavioral ScienceDrug addictionEpidemiologyHarm reductionHepatitisHIV/AIDSInfectious DiseasesMixed-Methods ResearchOpioidQualitative ResearchSocial epidemiologySubstance Abuse
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Publications
Publications
Invited Panelist for Selected Presentations at the IHRC23 Press Conference.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Is your syringe services program cost-saving to society? A methodological case study
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., Feelemyer, J., McKnight, C. A., Knudtson, K., & Glick, S. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
Harm Reduction JournalVolume
18Issue
1AbstractBackground: While there is a general acceptance among public health officials and policy-makers that syringe services programs can be effective in reducing HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs, local syringe services programs are often asked to provide economic justifications for their activities. A cost-effectiveness study, estimating the cost of preventing one HIV infection, would be the preferred methods for addressing this economic question, but few local syringe services programs have the needed data, staff and epidemiologic modeling resources needed for a cost–effectiveness study. We present a method for estimating a threshold value for the number of HIV infections prevented above which the program will be cost-saving to society. An intervention is considered “cost-saving” when it leads to a desirable health outcome a lower cost than the alternative. Methods: The research literature on the effectiveness of syringe services programs in controlling HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs and guidelines for syringe services program that are “functioning very well” were used to estimate the cost-saving threshold at which a syringe services program becomes cost-saving through preventing HIV infections versus lifetime treatment of HIV. Three steps are involved: (1) determining if HIV transmission in the local persons who inject drugs (PWID) population is being controlled, (2) determining if the local syringe services program is functioning very well, and then (3) dividing the annual budget of the syringe services program by the lifetime cost of treating a single HIV infection. Results: A syringe services program in an area with controlled HIV transmission (with HIV incidence of 1/100 person-years or less), functioning very well (with high syringe coverage, linkages to other services, and monitoring the local drug use situation), and an annual budget of $500,000 would need to prevent only 3 new HIV infections per year to be cost-saving. Conclusions: Given the high costs of treating HIV infections, syringe services programs that are operating according to very good practices (“functioning very well”) and in communities in which HIV transmission is being controlled among persons who inject drugs, will almost certainly be cost-saving to society.Large number of drug users might be unknowingly using fentanyl
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Legal syringe purchases by injection drug users, Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, 2000-2001.
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., McKnight, C. A., & Friedmann, P. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington,D.C. : 1996)Volume
42Issue
6 Suppl 2Page(s)
S73-76AbstractOBJECTIVE: To assess preliminary results of the Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) in New York City. DESIGN: Temporal trends of pharmacy use among injection drug users (IDUs) in Brooklyn and Queens were analyzed from December 2000 through December 2001. SETTING: Brooklyn and Queens, New York City. PARTIPANTS: IDUs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attempts to purchase syringes from pharmacies and success in doing so. RESULTS: Of the 1,072 IDUs interviewed from December 2000 through December 2001, the majority were daily heroin injectors, but there was also substantial speedball and cocaine injection. There was a clear increase over time in both the percentage of subjects who attempted to purchase syringes in pharmacies and in the percentage who successfully purchased syringes. Among IDUs interviewed 4 or more months after ESAP began, large majorities of those who attempted to purchase syringes were successful in doing so. No differences in use of ESAP by IDUs were identified in Brooklyn versus Queens: 27% of IDUs interviewed in Queens reported that they had attempted to purchase syringes in pharmacies versus 28% in Brooklyn. Persons who reported injecting on a daily or more frequent basis were more likely to have attempted pharmacy purchases than persons who reported injecting less frequently, 32% versus 21%. CONCLUSIONS: The ESAP program has led to an increase in the use of pharmacies as sources of sterile injection equipment among IDUs in New York City. The extent to which pharmacies become an important source of sterile injection equipment and the effect of legal pharmacy sales on risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remain to be determined.Longitudinal analysis of pain and illicit drug use behaviors in outpatients on methadone maintenance
AbstractDhingra, L., Perlman, D. C., Masson, C., Chen, J., McKnight, C. A., Jordan, A. E., Wasser, T., Portenoy, R. K., & Cheatle, M. D. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Drug and alcohol dependenceVolume
149Page(s)
285-289AbstractBackground: Little is known about the experience of chronic pain and the occurrence of illicit drug use behaviors in the population enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from two MMT samples enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of hepatitis care coordination. Patients completed pain, illicit drug use, and other questionnaires at baseline and 3, 9, and 12 months later. Associations were sought over time between the presence or absence of clinically significant pain (average daily pain ≥4 or mean pain interference ≥4 during the past week) and current illicit drug use (i.e., non-therapeutic opioid, cocaine or amphetamine use identified from self-report or urine drug screening). Results: Of 404 patients providing complete data, within-patient variability in pain and illicit drug use was high across the four assessment periods. While 263 denied pain at baseline, 118 (44.9%) later experienced clinically significant pain during ≥1 follow-up assessments. Of 180 patients (44.6%) without evidence of illicit drug use at baseline, only 109 (27.0%) had similar negative drug use at all follow-up assessments. Across four assessment periods, there was no significant association between pain group status and current illicit drug use. Conclusions: This one-year longitudinal analysis did not identify a significant association between pain and illicit drug use in MMT populations. This finding conflicts with some earlier investigations and underscores the need for additional studies to clarify the complex association between pain and substance use disorders in patients in MMT program settings.Many people who use heroin are getting fentanyl with it.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Modeling HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs (PWID) at the “End of the HIV Epidemic” and during the COVID-19 pandemic
AbstractJarlais, D. D., Bobashev, G., Feelemyer, J., & McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
Drug and alcohol dependenceVolume
238AbstractBackground: We explore injecting risk and HIV incidence among PWID in New York City (NYC), from 2012 to 2019, when incidence was extremely low,More than 80% of drug users test positive for fentanyl.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Most Injection Drug Users Are Not Seeking Out Fentanyl
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Most Injection Drug Users Are Not Seeking Out Fentanyl.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Most Injection Drug Users Are Not Seeking Out Fentanyl.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Most People Who Inject Drugs in NYC Test Positive for Fentanyl.
McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Non-fatal drug overdose among persons who inject drugs during first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City: prevalence, risk.
AbstractDes Jarlais, D., Weng, C. A., Jonathan, F., & McKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Abstract~Perceived discrimination among racial and ethnic minority drug users and the association with health care utilization
AbstractMcKnight, C. A., Shumway, M., Masson, C. L., Pouget, E. R., Jordan, A. E., Des Jarlais, D. C., Sorensen, J. L., & Perlman, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance AbuseVolume
16Issue
4Page(s)
404-419AbstractPeople who use drugs (PWUDs) are at increased risk for several medical conditions, yet they delay seeking medical care and utilize emergency departments (EDs) as their primary source of care. Limited research regarding perceived discrimination and PWUDs’ use of health care services exists. This study explores the association between interpersonal and institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination in health care settings and health care utilization among respondents (N = 192) recruited from methadone maintenance treatment programs (36%), HIV primary care clinics (35%), and syringe exchange programs (29%) in New York City (n = 88) and San Francisco (n = 104). The Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Race, Ethnicity, and Medical Care questionnaire was utilized to assess perceived institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination. Perceived institutional discrimination was examined across race/ethnicity and by regular use of ERs, having a regular doctor, and consistent health insurance. Perceived interpersonal discrimination was examined by race/ethnicity. Perceived interpersonal drug use discrimination was the most common type of discrimination experienced in health care settings. Perceptions of institutional discrimination related to race/ethnicity and drug use among non-Hispanic Whites did not significantly differ from those among non-Hispanic Blacks or Hispanics. A perception of less frequent institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination in health care settings was associated with increased odds of having a regular doctor. Awareness of perceived interpersonal and institutional discrimination in certain populations and the effect on health care service utilization should inform future intervention development to help reduce discrimination and improve health care utilization among PWUDs.Perceptions of drug users regarding Hepatitis C screening and care : A qualitative study
AbstractJordan, A. E., Masson, C. L., Mateu-Gelabert, P., McKnight, C. A., Pepper, N., Bouche, K., Guzman, L., Kletter, E., Seewald, R. M., Des-Jarlais, D. C., Sorensen, J. L., & Perlman, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Journal title
Harm Reduction JournalVolume
10Issue
1AbstractBackground: Illicit drug users have a high prevalence of HCV and represent the majority of newly infected persons in the U.S. Despite the availability of effective HCV treatment, few drug users have been evaluated or treated for HCV. Racial and ethnic minorities have a higher incidence and prevalence of HCV and higher HCV-related mortality. Factors contributing to poor engagement in care are incompletely understood.Methods: Fourteen mixed-gender focus groups of either African American or Latino/a drug users (N = 95) discussed barriers to HCV testing and treatment. Themes were identified through content analysis of focus group discussions.Results: Many drug users were tested for HCV in settings where they were receiving care. Outside of these settings, most were unaware of voluntary test sites. After testing HCV positive, drug users reported not receiving clear messages regarding the meaning of a positive HCV test, the impact of HCV infection, or appropriate next steps including HCV clinical evaluations. Many drug users perceived treatment as unimportant because they lacked symptoms, healthcare providers minimized the severity of the diagnosis, or providers did not recommend treatment. Mistrust of the motivations of healthcare providers was cited as a barrier to pursuing treatment. Social networks or social interactions were a source of HCV-related information and were influential in shaping drug users perceptions of treatment and its utility.Conclusion: Drug users perceived a paucity of settings for self-initiated HCV testing and poor provider-patient communication at test sites and during medical encounters. Notably, drug users reported having an unclear understanding about the meaning of a positive HCV test, the health implications of HCV infection, the importance of clinical evaluations and monitoring, and of treatment options for HCV. Efforts to improve the delivery of clinical messages about HCV infection for drug users at test settings and clinical encounters are needed.Persistence and change in disparities in HIV infection among injection drug users in New York City after large-scale syringe exchange programs
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., Arasteh, K., Hagan, H., McKnight, C. A., Perlman, D. C., & Friedman, S. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
99Issue
SUPPL. 2Page(s)
S445-S451AbstractObjectives. We examined racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) before and after implementation of large-scale syringe exchange programs in New York City. Methods. Participants were recruited from IDUs entering the Beth Israel drug detoxification program in New York City. Participants (n=1203) recruited from 1990 through 1994, prior to large-scale syringe exchange programs (pre-exchange), were compared with 1109 participants who began injecting in 1995 or later and were interviewed in 1995 through 2008 (post-exchange). Results. There were large differences in HIV prevalence among pre-exchange vs post-exchange participants (African Americans, 57% vs 15%; Hispanics, 53% vs 5%; Whites, 27% vs 3%). Pre- and post-exchange relative disparities of HIV prevalence were similar for African Americans vs Whites (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.41, 4.96 and AOR=4.02, 95% CI=1.67, 9.69, respectively) and Hispanics vs Whites (AOR=1.76, 95% CI=1.49, 2.09 and AOR=1.49, 95% CI=1.02, 2.17). Racial/ethnic group differences in risk behavior did not explain differences in HIV prevalence. Conclusions. New interventions are needed to address continuing disparities in HIV infection among IDUs, but self-reported risk behaviors by themselves may not be adequate outcome measures for evaluating interventions to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection.Potential geographic "hotspots" for drug-injection related transmission of HIV and HCV and for initiation into injecting drug use in New York city, 2011-2015, with implications for the current opioid epidemic in the US
AbstractMcKnight, C. A., Des Jarlais, D. C., Cooper, H. L., Arasteh, K., Feelemyer, J., McKnight, C., & Ross, Z. (n.d.).Publication year
2018Journal title
PloS oneVolume
13Issue
3AbstractObjective We identified potential geographic “hotspots” for drug-injecting transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City. The HIV epidemic among PWID is currently in an “end of the epidemic” stage, while HCV is in a continuing, high prevalence (> 50%) stage. Methods We recruited 910 PWID entering Mount Sinai Beth Israel substance use treatment programs from 2011–2015. Structured interviews and HIV/ HCV testing were conducted. Residential ZIP codes were used as geographic units of analysis. Potential “hotspots” for HIV and HCV transmission were defined as 1) having relatively large numbers of PWID 2) having 2 or more HIV (or HCV) seropositive PWID reporting transmission risk—passing on used syringes to others, and 3) having 2 or more HIV (or HCV) seronegative PWID reporting acquisition risk—injecting with previously used needles/syringes. Hotspots for injecting drug use initiation were defined as ZIP codes with 5 or more persons who began injecting within the previous 6 years. Results Among PWID, 96% injected heroin, 81% male, 34% White, 15% African-American, 47% Latinx, mean age 40 (SD = 10), 7% HIV seropositive, 62% HCV seropositive. Participants resided in 234 ZIP codes. No ZIP codes were identified as potential hotspots due to small numbers of HIV seropositive PWID reporting transmission risk. Four ZIP codes were identified as potential hotspots for HCV transmission. 12 ZIP codes identified as hotspots for injecting drug use initiation. Discussion For HIV, the lack of potential hotspots is further validation of widespread effectiveness of efforts to reduce injecting-related HIV transmission. Injecting-related HIV transmission is likely to be a rare, random event. HCV prevention efforts should include focus on potential hotspots for transmission and on hotspots for initiation into injecting drug use. We consider application of methods for the current opioid epidemic in the US.Prescription opiate analgesics, heroin, HIV and HCV among persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2016-2018
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., Arasteh, K., McKnight, C. A., Feelemyer, J., Perlman, D. C., & Tross, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
Drug and alcohol dependenceVolume
204AbstractObjectives: Assess relationships among non-medical use of prescription opioid analgesics (POAs), heroin use, and HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City, 2016–2018. Methods: PWID (N = 134) were recruited from Mount Sinai Beth Israel drug treatment programs. HIV seropositive persons were oversampled. A questionnaire was administered, and serum samples were collected for HIV and HCV testing. Analyses were stratified by HIV serostatus and compared those who had used POAs to those who had not used POAs. Results: Among the participants, 97% reported injecting heroin, 44% reported injecting cocaine, and 47% reported smoking crack cocaine in the 6 months prior to the interview. There were 66% who reported oral non-medical use of POAs, with 42% using oral POAs in the previous 6 months. There was a clear historical pattern in median year of first injection for different groups: HIV seropositive persons (1985), HIV seronegative persons who never used POAs (1999), and HIV seronegative persons who used POAs (2009). By the time of interview (2016–2018), however, almost all participants (97%) reported injecting heroin. All PWID who reported using POAs also reported injecting heroin. Conclusions: Non-medical POA use among PWID was very common and should not be considered a separate drug use epidemic, but as an additional component of the continuing heroin/poly-drug use epidemic, itself a part of the syndemic of opioid use, stimulant use, overdose, HCV and HIV occurring in New York City.Providing ART to HIV Seropositive Persons Who Use Drugs : Progress in New York City, Prospects for “Ending the Epidemic”
AbstractJarlais, D. C., Arasteh, K., McKnight, C. A., Feelemyer, J., Hagan, H., Cooper, H. L., Campbell, A. N., Tross, S., & Perlman, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
AIDS and BehaviorVolume
20Issue
2Page(s)
353-362AbstractNew York City has experienced the largest HIV epidemic among persons who use psychoactive drugs. We examined progress in placing HIV seropositive persons who inject drugs (PWID) and HIV seropositive non-injecting drug users (NIDU) onto antiretroviral treatment (ART) in New York City over the last 15 years. We recruited 3511 PWID and 3543 NIDU from persons voluntarily entering drug detoxification and methadone maintenance treatment programs in New York City from 2001 to 2014. HIV prevalence declined significantly among both PWID and NIDU. The percentage who reported receiving ART increased significantly, from approximately 50 % (2001–2005) to approximately 75 % (2012–2014). There were no racial/ethnic disparities in the percentages of HIV seropositive persons who were on ART. Continued improvement in ART uptake and TasP and maintenance of other prevention and care services should lead to an “End of the AIDS Epidemic” for persons who use heroin and cocaine in New York City.Public Funding of US Syringe Exchange Programs
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., McKnight, C. A., & Milliken, J. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
81Issue
1Page(s)
118-121AbstractAlthough there has been no federal government funding of syringe exchange, there is substantial state and local government funding. We report here on program characteristics associated with receiving state and local government funding. Annual telephone surveys were made of program directors of syringe exchange programs known to the North American Syringe Exchange Network. The number of syringe exchange programs known to this network has increased from 63 in 1994-1995 to 127 in 2000. Approximately 80% of programs participated in each of the surveys. Approximately 50% of programs receive state and local government funding, and this has remained constant from 1994 to 2000. Receiving state and local government funding was associated with larger numbers of syringes exchanged per year and providing more on-site services. Among programs that received state or local government funding, this funding accounted for a mean of 87% of the budget for syringe exchange services. In the absence of federal funding, state and local government support is associated with better syringe exchange performance.Racial/ethnic disparities at the end of an HIV epidemic : Persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2011-2015
AbstractDes Jarlais, D. C., Arasteh, K., McKnight, C. A., Feelemyer, J., Tross, S., Perlman, D., Friedman, S., & Campbell, A. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
107Issue
7Page(s)
1157-1163AbstractObjectives. To examine whether racial/ethnic disparities persist at the "end of the HIV epidemic" (prevalence of untreated HIV infection < 5%; HIV incidence < 0.5 per 100 person-years) among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City. Methods.We recruited 2404 PWID entering New York City substance use treatment in 2001 to 2005 and 2011 to 2015. We conducted a structured interview, and testing for HIV and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2; a biomarker for high sexual risk). We estimated incidence by using newly diagnosed cases of HIV. Disparity analyses compared HIV, untreated HIV, HIV-HSV-2 coinfection, HIV monoinfection, and estimated HIV incidence among Whites, African Americans, and Latinos. Results. By 2011 to 2015, Whites, African Americans, and Latino/as met both criteria of our operational "end-of-the-epidemic" definition. All comparisons that included HIV-HSV-2-coinfected persons had statistically significant higher rates of HIV among racial/ethnic minorities. No comparisons limited to HIV monoinfected persons were significant. Conclusions. "End-of-the-epidemic" criteria were met among White, African American, and Latino/a PWID in New York City, but elimination of disparities may require a greater focus on PWID with high sexual risk.Recurrent Injecting Drug Use as a Mediator between Psychiatric Disorder and Non-Fatal Overdose
AbstractBarnes, D. M., Xu, V. S., Cleland, C. M., McKnight, C. A., & Des Jarlais, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
Substance Use and MisuseVolume
57Issue
8Page(s)
1248-1256AbstractBackground: Unintentional drug overdose has increased markedly in the United States. Studies document an association between psychiatric disorder and unintentional overdose; we extend this research through a preliminary test of a causal model of recurrent injection drug use mediating this relationship. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 241 adults in New York City with a possible current substance use disorder, we conducted conventional and Imai’s mediation analyses to examine if psychiatric disorder is associated with increased prevalence of ever overdosing and if recurrent injection drug use mediates this association. Our cross-sectional data permit the first step of assessing causal models: testing if statistical associations are consistent with the model. Results: Fifty-eight percent of the sample endorsed previous psychiatric disorder diagnosis and 35.7% reported ever overdosing. Imai’s mediation analysis showed that, adjusting for covariates, the total association between psychiatric diagnosis and ever overdosing (adjusted prevalence difference [aPD] = 0.16, 95% CI 0.04–0.28) was composed of a direct effect (aPD = 0.09, 95% CI −0.03 − 0.21, p = 0.136) and an indirect effect (aPD = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02–0.13). Recurrent injecting drug use contributed to 42% (ratio of indirect effect to total effect; 95% CI 12 − 100%, p = 0.02) of the association between psychiatric diagnosis and ever overdosing. Conventional mediation analysis produced similar results. Conclusions: Our results provide a warrant for taking the necessary next step for assessing a causal model using longitudinal data, potentially providing a strong rationale for intervening on psychiatric disorders to stem overdose.Research with People Who Use Drugs: Methods and Ethical Considerations for Survey Design.
AbstractMcKnight, C. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Abstract~Respondent-driven sampling in a study of drug users in New York City : Notes from the field
AbstractMcKnight, C. A., Des Jarlais, D., Bramson, H., Tower, L., Abdul-Quader, A. S., Nemeth, C., & Heckathorn, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
83Issue
7 SUPPL.Page(s)
i54-i59AbstractBeth Israel Medical Center (BIMC), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in a study of HIV seroprevalence among drug users in New York City in 2004. We report here on operational issues with RDS including recruitment, coupon distribution, storefront operations, police and community relations, and the overall lessons we learned. Project staff recruited eight seeds from a syringe exchange in Lower Manhattan to serve as the initial study participants. Upon completion of the interview that lasted approximately 1 h and a blood draw, each seed was given three coupons to recruit three drug users into the study. Each of the subsequent eligible participants was also given three coupons to recruit three of their drug-using acquaintances. Eligible participants had to have: injected, smoked or snorted an illicit drug in the last 6 months (other than marijuana), aged 18 or older, adequate English language knowledge to permit informed consent and complete questionnaire. From April to July 2004, 618 drug users were interviewed, including 263 (43%) current injectors, 119 (19%) former injectors, and 236 (38%) never injectors. Four hundred sixty nine (76%) participants were men, 147 (24%) were women, and two (Risk factors for hepatitis C seropositivity among young people who inject drugs in New York City : Implications for prevention
AbstractEckhardt, B., Winkelstein, E. R., Shu, M. A., Carden, M. R., McKnight, C. A., Des Jarlais, D. C., Glesby, M. J., Marks, K., & Edlin, B. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
PloS oneVolume
12Issue
5AbstractBackground: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant problem in the United States, with people who inject drugs (PWID) disproportionately afflicted. Over the last decade rates of heroin use have more than doubled, with young persons (18-25 years) demonstrating the largest increase. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in New York City from 2005 to 2012 among young people who injected illicit drugs, and were age 18 to 35 or had injected drugs for