[Relatively low HIV prevalence among drug users in The Hague in spite of risky injection behavior]

Between September 1987 and January 1989 101 drug users in The Hague were studied for HIV seroprevalence and risky injecting behaviour. A comparison was made between this group and a group of 241 drug users who were studied in the same period in Amsterdam. All HIV-infected drug users, except for one homosexual man in Amsterdam, had a history of intravenous drug use. The HIV seroprevalence for 56 intravenous drug users in The Hague was 1.8% (95% CI: 0-5.3), and for 194 intravenous drug users in Amsterdam 26.8% (95% CI: 20.6-33.0). With regard to risky injecting behaviour no differences in frequency of borrowing or lending used needles and syringes were found between the two groups. Concluded is that further spread of HIV among intravenous drug users in The Hague (and Amsterdam) will be likely unless risk reduction in injecting behaviour will occur.