Risk behaviour for HIV transmission in attenders on methadone maintenance

Sixty-nine opiate addicts on methadone maintenance programmes at the Drug Treatment Centre were interviewed, all meet DSM. 3 criteria for opioid dependency. Most were young, poorly educated, unemployed and had involvement with both police and prison. Drug abuse started at a young age, all had injected drugs, heroin being the most widely abused opiate. Forty-eight (70%) were HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive. Since diagnosis these individuals had made significant changes in their injecting practices and sexual behaviour. However, despite this positive change, there remained a high level of at risk behaviour for further HIV transmission.