Parenteral injection of alcohol: Early warning of an emergent trend in Colombia?

Preliminary evidence gathered in Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, indicates that use of hypodermic methods to inject ethanol has developed among some people in that city. Epidemiologists investigating drug use stumbled upon this behavior in the responses of some interviewees. These users' descriptions of parenteral injection of ethanol include rationales such as reduced cost and rapid arrival of intoxicating effects. Subsequent interviews among a convenience sample of respondents demonstrated some consistencies in this pattern of alcohol consumption, including use of syringes of similar size (five milliliters), similarities of effects derived from parenteral use, and similar reasons for desiring this kind of intoxication. This complex of behavior has potential for spreading, especially among marginalized populations. It also could constitute another risk factor for infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.