The impact of HIV upon injecting drug users: a longitudinal study

This paper provides quantitative and qualitative material relating to concern about HIV infection and AIDS, HIV status and patterns of drug use, and sexual behaviour amongst 14 injecting drug users. It is part of a longitudinal study involving interviews with 115 regular illicit drug users conducted between December 1987 and June 1988, of whom 21 were current injectors. Follow-up interviews with 14 of these injectors were conducted between September 1989 and April 1990. Whilst there are some encouraging signs of behaviour change in relation to needle-sharing, sexual behaviour change was less apparent. It is concluded that there is still a long way to go in terms of encouraging, facilitating and supporting continued safer practices.