Legal needle buying in St. Louis

W. M. Compton, L. B. Cottler, D. Mager, R. Stringfellow, Wilson B. Compton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study sought to determine if and why barriers to the over-the-counter purchase of syringes in the St. Louis metropolitan area might exist, given that no ordinance prohibits such a sale there. Two male research assistants (one African American, one White) approached 33 of the area's pharmacies to buy syringes. In 14 of those pharmacies, either the purchase was refused or the minimum number of syringes that could be bought was so large (at least 100) that the sale was not practical. Racial bias in rates of refusal and implications for prohibiting or restricting legal availability of syringes are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)595-596
Number of pages2
JournalAmerican journal of public health
Volume82
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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