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Risk‐taking behaviour on the decline in intravenous drug users
Author(s) -
RONALD P. J. M.,
ROBERTSON J. R.,
ROBERTS J. J. K.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb01907.x
Subject(s) - intravenous drug , seroprevalence , drug , medicine , substance abuse , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , intravenous use , psychiatry , anesthesia , family medicine , immunology , viral disease , serology , antibody
In order to assess behaviour changes among intravenous drug users we interviewed 51 IVDUs attending a general practice in Edinburgh. The data obtained was compared with equivalent data gathered in 1986. We were able to show that significant changes in injecting behaviour have occurred and have been maintained over time. A decrease in HIV seroprevalence in this group was also found. The primary drugs of abuse are benzodiazepines and pharmacological opiates, a fact which has important implications for the medical authorities.