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Aids and IV Drug Users: the Situation in Australia
Author(s) -
Arachne Jim,
Ball Andrew
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
australian drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0819-5331
DOI - 10.1080/09595238680000411
Subject(s) - drug , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , environmental health , family medicine , psychiatry
Abstract Many people believe that AIDS is not a problem for IV drug users in Australia. Yet, overseas evidence clearly shows that it will be. Early in 1985, infection with AIDS‐related retro‐virus (ARV) among Australian users was apparent. Sharing of needles and syringes is a high risk practice and is common within the IV drug using community. It appears that IV drug users are at a significantly greater risk of ARV infection than other groups. The issues associated with AIDS and IV drug use are many and complex. AIDS will become a major issue for drug and alcohol workers in the near future.