Health AI Central
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Drug Alcohol Depend2026;287113279.October 1, 2026Journal Article

Multilevel drivers and constraints of shifts from injecting to smoking opioids and stimulants: A qualitative study from the San Diego-Tijuana border region.

William H Eger1, Maia H Hauschild2, Erika L Crable3, Logan A Hehner4, Katie Bailey5, M Gudelia Rangel6, Alicia Harvey-Vera7, Carlos Vera8, Annick Bórquez9, Heather A Pines10, Eileen V Pitpitan11, Thomas L Patterson12, Steffanie A Strathdee13, Angela R Bazzi14
1School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA; School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: weger0735@sdsu.edu.
2Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address: mhh82@med.miami.edu.
3Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Center for Health Policy Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: elcrable@ucla.edu.
4Department of Psychology, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, USA. Electronic address: hehnerl@hartwick.edu.
5Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: kkbailey@health.ucsd.edu.
6Department of Population Studies, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, Mexico. Electronic address: grangel2009@gmail.com.
7School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: alvera@health.ucsd.edu.
8School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: cfvera@health.ucsd.edu.
9School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: aborquez@health.ucsd.edu.
10Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address: hpines@sdsu.edu.
11School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address: epitpitan@sdsu.edu.
12School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: tpatterson@health.ucsd.edu.
13School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: sstrathdee@health.ucsd.edu.
14Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: abazzi@health.ucsd.edu.
PubMed DOI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amidst declines in injecting opioids and stimulants across North America, we sought to explore multilevel drivers and constraints of shifts from injecting to smoking these substances among people with a history of injection drug use. METHODS: From October-December 2024, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with individuals with histories of injection drug use in San Die…

Create a free account to keep reading

Free members get 10 full research views every month across publications, clinical trials, FDA clearances, adverse events, and NIH grants. No credit card required.

Create Free AccountSign In

Want unlimited research access? See Pro plans

Data Accuracy Notice: Research intelligence on Health AI Central is aggregated from public sources (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, FDA, NIH, CMS, and others) and refreshed nightly. Classifications and derived metrics are produced by automated methods described in our Methodology. We recommend verifying critical data points against the primary sources before making decisions.