HIV Rate Among Drug Users Rising Worldwide

The rate of HIV infection among injecting drug users appears to be rising, according to a report published in the British Medical journal, The Lancet.

Researchers say that 3 million drug users worldwide could now be HIV positive. In nine countries, more than 40% of drug users were infected. The report also concludes that both the numbers of injecting drug users and the prevalence of HIV infection among them are on the increase.

The high prevalence of HIV among many populations of injecting drug users represents a substantial global health challenge In some countries in South East Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe the rates of infection among injecting users are above 40%. In Estonia it is more than 72%. But some countries have maintained very low rates of infection, such as Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia where only 1.5% of injecting drug users are HIV-positive. Researchers say that this was due to the swift introduction of needle exchange programs in the 1980s.

The report says that there is a clear mandate to invest in HIV prevention programs such as needle exchanges and drug substitution treatments. There is also a clear need for education to help prevent the spread of infection in countries where injecting drug use is common but where the virus has not yet become widespread among users. Courtesy BBC