Injection Drug Users
Updated May 2005
Nearly 26% of diagnosed AIDS cases were associated with injection
drug use in 2003 making injection drug use the second highest incidence
of HIV exposure and transmission in the United States. A well-known
and common mode of HIV transmission since the beginning of the pandemic,
injection drug use consistently remains a leading HIV infection
risk factor. Sadly, injection drug users (IDUs) often are not the
sole individuals at risk for HIV/AIDS; often, HIV/AIDS is transmitted
between IDUs and their partners and through perinatal HIV from an
IDU mother, resulting in a more rapid spread of HIV/AIDS beyond
the IDU community. Substance abuse itself stems from several socioeconomic
problems including poverty, peer pressure, and a lack of education
on high-risk health practices. Since the beginning of the epidemic,
there has been a distinct gap between HIV prevention and drug abuse
treatment. The capacity to treat IDUs and the recognition of HIV
transmission through substance abuse has not proportionately met
the need for sustainable HIV prevention. Harm reduction and needle
(syringe) exchange programs directly address this discrepancy and
make this intervention in order to educate IDUs on HIV prevention
and transmission. These programs, however, cannot stand alone in
combating HIV/AIDS within IDU populations and require more extensive
initiatives inclusive of substance abuse treatment. The following
resources on harm reduction and injection drug use provide insight
and program efforts designed to address HIV/AIDS within IDU populations.
Organizations
Drug Reform Coordination Network
DRCNet is a major national and global network including parents, educators, students, lawyers, health care professionals, academics, and others working for drug policy reform from a variety of perspectives, including harm reduction and reform of sentencing and forfeiture laws. This website provides links to syringe exchange and race/HIV resources and annotated bibliographies
Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC)
The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) is committed to reducing drug-related harm among individuals and communities by initiating and promoting local, regional, and national harm reduction education, interventions, and community organizing. HRC fosters alternative models to conventional health and human services and drug treatment; challenges traditional client/provider relationships; and provides resources, educational materials, and support to health professionals and drug users in their communities to address drug-related harm.
Harm Reduction Therapy Center (HRTC)
HRTC offers outpatient therapy and treatment services to people interested in an alternative approach to addiction. This website provides training information and resources on Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (HRP), a multifaceted approach to working with drug and alcohol users who are experiencing problems related to substance abuse.
North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN)
NASEN is dedicated to the creation, expansion and continued existence of syringe exchange programs as a proven method of stopping the transmission of blood borne pathogens in the injecting drug using community. This website provides valuable resources on harm reduction and needle exchange programs, including a nationwide database of organizations, current research, and grantee opportunities for U.S.-based needle exchange programs.
Project on Harm Reduction in the Health Care System
www.temple.edu/lawschool/aidspolicy
A program through Temple University 's Beasley School of Law, the Project on Harm Reduction in the Health Care System provides a comprehensive source of up-to-date information and detailed legal analysis on the legality of prescribing, selling, possessing and disposing of syringes used in illegal drug injection. Areas of research and analysis include HIV/AIDS criminal policy, disease prevention and care for IDUs and their families, and state-by-state regulations regarding harm reduction and needle exchange programs.
Publications
Braine N, Des Jarlais DC, Ahmad S, Purchase D, Turner C. "Long-term Effects of Syringe Exchange on Risk Behavior and HIV Prevention." AIDS Educ Prev. 2004 Jun 16(3): 264-75.
Estrada, AL. "Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Tuberculosis among minority injection drug users." Public Health Rep 117:Suppl 1 (2002): S126-S134.
Galea S, Vlahov D. "Social Determinants and the Health of Drug Users: Socioeconomic Status, Homelessness, and Incarceration." Public Health Rep 117: Suppl 1 (2002): S135-S145.
Innovative Approaches to Health Psychology: Prevention and Treatment Lessons from AIDS. Chesney MA, Antoni MH (Eds). American Psychological Association. 2002.
Riehman KS, Kral AH, Anderson R, Flynn N, Bluthenthal RN "Sexual Relationships, Secondary Syringe Exchange, and Gender Differences in HIV Risk Among Drug Injectors." J Urban Health. 2004 Jun 81(2): 249-59.
Sterk, CE. "The Health Intervention Project: HIV Risk Reduction among African American Women Drug Users." Public Health Rep 117: Suppl 1 (2002): S88-S95.