[The role of a new syringe filter in harm reduction: the views of active injection drug users]

Reducing the risks associated with drug injection is a core component of the Drug Harm Reduction Policy. In France, this strategy was implemented in the context of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Unless appropriate hygienic precautions are taken, injecting drugs may cause infectious, bacterial or fungal diseases. French Health authorities promote the use of effective tools to help reduce the harm associated with drug injection. In this context, public authorities supported the evaluation of new drug injection paraphernalia. Two qualitative studies were carried out among injection drug users in order to assess the acceptability of new tools disseminated on an experimental basis. The main objective of the evaluation was to identify the criteria governing the adoption or rejection of injection paraphernalia. This paper focuses on the acceptability of a specific syringe filter which is a decisive tool to reduce the harm associated with drug injection. The results show that drug users accept or refuse to change their injecting behaviour depending on specific criteria not entirely associated with public health concerns. The information from these studies suggests that strategies designed to reduce the harm associated with drug injection must be based on these individual criteria and should provide personalized and long-lasting assistance.