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Injection drug use in Calcutta: a potential focus for an explosive HIV epidemic.
S Panda1, A Chatterjee, S Sarkar
1ICMR Unit for Research on AIDS in North-Eastern States of India, DL 172, Salt Lake, Calcutta, 700091, India.
Drug and Alcohol Review
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Low HIV/AIDS awareness and high-risk behaviors among drug users in Calcutta necessitate urgent HIV prevention interventions. Findings highlight unsafe injection practices and factors driving increased injection drug use.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Injection drug use (IDU) is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding risk perceptions and behaviors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess HIV risk perceptions and behaviors among drug users in Calcutta.
- To identify factors contributing to increased injection drug use.
- To evaluate the acceptance of harm minimization messages.
Main Methods:
- Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with drug users.
- Semi-structured interviews with 111 drug users (76 IDUs, 35 non-IDUs).
- Analysis of secondary data on narcotic seizures and detoxification admissions.
Main Results:
- Low HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception were prevalent.
- 66% of injectors reported sharing injection equipment; condom use was minimal.
- Factors driving injection included heroin unavailability, rising costs, and tolerance.
- Intensified police activity correlated with increased smokable heroin seizures, buprenorphine injection, and detox admissions.
- IDUs were also at high risk for Hepatitis B and C.
Conclusions:
- There is an urgent need for community-based HIV prevention programs for drug users in Calcutta.
- Interventions should address low risk perception, unsafe injection practices, and co-infections like Hepatitis B and C.
- Addressing factors that drive the transition to injection drug use is critical.