IV DRUG USE
headquarters plaza
Injection drug use accounts for 34% of the mode of transmission for the people living with HIV/AIDS in Morristown (6A). In addition to this, about half of all HIV/AIDS cases in New Jersey can be attributed to IV drug use (2G). There are many risk factors for contracting HIV associated with using intravenous drugs, some that go beyond the scope of simply sharing a needle. In fact, around a third of AIDS cases documented are as a result of the injection of illegal drugs (2A). Shooting galleries, places where drug users can go to buy, sell, and use drugs and drug paraphernalia, are breeding grounds for HIV (2A). It is here that needles are commonly shared without being sterilized prior to their usage (2A). For homeless or extremely poor drug addicts, injectable forms of drugs found in shooting galleries are often times cheaper because they are more concentrated and require less to induce a high and there is no need to purchase needles (2A). Shooting galleries are also one area where the gap between the homosexual HIV/AIDS population and the heterosexual HIV/AIDS population is filled, as both groups will tend to share the same needles (2E).
While needle sharing is the most obvious risk associated with IDUs, sexual behavior is often times affected in a negative way when under the influence of drugs. A study showed that in some cases, 43% of IV drug users use drugs to “meet sexual needs” and facilitate sexual behavior (2B). Of this population, both male and females had a larger number of sexual partners and used condoms less frequently (2B). The use of injection drugs can also lead to sexual experiences that an individual would not otherwise engage in. In a study concerning African American men who have sex with men, one respondent commented: “if you are using drugs, then you are under an influence of drugs and you want to get your swerve on and so they use that aphrodisiac” (2C). In a sense, the drugs act as means for the men to separate themselves from focusing on the gender of their partner so they can just enjoy the sex (2C). This is extremely dangerous, as the pleasure associated with sex becomes correlated with this drug use thus furthering the addiction (2F). In a study of MSM-IDUs, it was shown that 35% of men with primary male partners and 56% of men with primary female partners used condoms with their partners less than half the time (2F). This shows that these men who are having sex with men on the side are most likely bringing it home to their partners (2F). Women are also affected in their sexual experiences by the use of intravenous drugs. Drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines were found to be linked to higher rates of heterosexual anal sex among females (2D). Anal intercourse in women has shown to carry a higher risk for HIV transmission than that of vaginal intercourse (2E). For those that are poor and employed but addicted to drugs, sex is often used as a tool to earn money to buy drugs or just to obtain the drugs themselves (2C). This often times results in unprotected MSM and heterosexual anal sex for females (2C, 2D).
According to James Gannon, Deputy Chief of Investigation for the Morris County Prosecutors Office, “There aren’t really any specific shooting galleries in Morristown. Most people tend to shoot up in abandoned cars and buildings near the green. They also like to hang out in the cemetery behind headquarters plaza because it is harder for the police to get in there and catch them” (6C). The green is located very near to the soup kitchen and the Market Street mission, both places where poor and homeless drug addicts can go to get food. For this reason, many homeless also tend to gather near the green (6C).