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The first and second decades of AIDS among injecting drug users
Author(s) -
JARLAIS DON C. DES
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.tb01935.x
Subject(s) - panacea (medicine) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , population , drug , variety (cybernetics) , developing country , medicine , environmental health , economic growth , family medicine , computer science , alternative medicine , pharmacology , economics , pathology , artificial intelligence
This paper examines findings and trends from the first decade of research on AIDS among injecting drug users as a basis for projecting into the next decade. One of the most disturbing aspects of AIDS and HIV infection among injecting drug users which emerged in the first decade is the globalization of the problem. Further geographic spread can be expected, particularly in developing countries. Rapid spread of HIV among drug injectors has occurred in many different cities, with a lack of AIDS awareness and mechanisms for efficient mixing of the at‐risk population appearing to be important contributing factors. Drug injectors have modified their behavior in response to a wide variety of AIDS prevention programs. No single type of prevention program should be viewed as a panacea, and a comprehensive system of programs will undoubtedly be needed. Changing sexual risk behavior has proven to be considerably more difficult than changing drug injection risk behavior, and is an area in need of much more research.