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. 2010 May;7(2):99-106.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-010-0043-7.

Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions

Steffanie A Strathdee  1 , Jamila K Stockman
Affiliations

Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions

Steffanie A Strathdee et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2010 May.

Abstract

Injecting drug use is a major driver of HIV infections in Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, North Africa, the Middle East, and many parts of Asia and North America. We provide a global overview of the epidemiology of HIV infection among drug users and present current drug use trends that may constitute important epidemic drivers. We describe trends in ethnic disparities among injecting drug using (IDU) populations in the United States, and comment upon how these trends may now be changing. We present examples where HIV infection among non-IDUs who use cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine by other routes of administration is similar to that among IDUs, and discuss potential mechanisms of HIV spread in this overlooked population. Finally, we comment upon the potential implications of these observations for HIV interventions among IDU and non-IDU populations, taking into account different strategies that are needed in settings where HIV and/or injecting drug use has been established, or threatens to emerge.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number and proportion of HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) by the three leading countries for injecting drug use
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proportion of reported HIV cases related to injecting drug use, by race/ethnicity and age group through 2007: 53 areas. Includes persons of unknown race or multiple races (Source: the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
HIV prevalence among non-injecting and injecting drug users (IDUs), selected cities
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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