Heroin Use and Injection Risk Behaviors in Colombia: Implications for HIV/AIDS Prevention
BACKGROUND:
Heroin
production in Colombia has increased dramatically in recent decades, and some
studies point to an increase in local heroin use since the mid-1990s. Despite
this rapid increase, little is known about the effects of these activities on
heroin injection within Colombia. One of the biggest concerns surrounding
heroin injection is the potential spread of HIV through drug user networks.
OBJECTIVES:
This
article examines injection risk behaviors among heroin injectors in the
Colombian cities of Medellín and Pereira to explore the implications for
possible increased HIV transmission within this group.
METHODS:
A
cross-sectional study used respondent-driving sampling to recruit a sample of
540 people who inject drugs (PWID) over 18 years of age (Medellín: n =
242, Pereira: n = 298). Structured interviews with each participant were
conducted using the World Health Organization Drug Injection Study Phase II Survey.
An HIV test was also administered.
RESULTS:
Information
regarding the socio-demographics, injection drug use, HIV risk and transmission
behaviors, injection risk management, and HIV knowledge and prevalence of
participants are reported. The study identified many young, newly initiated
injectors who engage in risky injection practices. The study also found that
HIV prevalence is fairly low among participants (2.7%).
Findings indicate a potential risk for the spread of HIV among PWID in Colombia
given their widespread sharing practices, high rate of new injector initiation,
and unsafe syringe cleaning practices. Colombia has a possibly time-limited
opportunity to prevent an HIV epidemic by implementing harm reduction
interventions among young, newly initiated PWID.
- 1 National Development and Research Institutes , New York , New York , USA.
- 2 University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida , USA.
- 3 Universidad CES , Medellín , Colombia.
- 4 University of the Andes , Bogotá , Colombia.
- Subst Use Misuse. 2016 Jan 22:1-11
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