Abstract
Infection spreads through illicit drug injecting infection-related risk behavior (IRRB). This Continuing Education article examines drug injecting practices that lead to the spread of infection and the influences known to underlie these actions. The first part of this article reviews types of drug injecting practices. These practices include passing on and accepting injecting equipment; the process of drug injecting and sharing injecting equipment paraphernalia; syringe-mediated drug-sharing; the cleaning of needles and syringes; and the storage and disposal of injecting equipment. The second part of this article reviews research on the underlying influences on these behaviors. Considered here are the availability of sterile injecting equipment; needing drugs, experiencing withdrawal, and intoxication; social norms and etiquette; social relationships and social distance; and previous behavior