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THEINJECTIONDRIVEN HIVEPIDEMIC –ANOVERVIEW
HIV transmission has traditionallybeen associated with unsae sexualintercourse. Nonetheless, injectingdrug use is one o the astest andmost common HIV transmissionroutes in some regions o the world.Through the lack o HIV preventionservices targeting people who useinjecting drugs, and lack o resourcesto reduce risk such as the sharing ocontaminated needles and syringes,a signicant number o people,including youth, are contracting HIVevery day.While the need or comprehensiveHIV programs and policies in orderto halt the spread o HIV has beenwidely recognised, the inclusiono inormation related to injectingdrug use is still lacking. Ignoring thisissue contributes to the challenge odecreasing and controlling the rise othe AIDS epidemic. Injection drug usecan lead to the exponential growth oHIV transmission in a community. Itis estimated that there are approxi-mately 13.2 million people who useinjecting drugs in over 155 countriesworldwide
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. Approximately 78% opeople who use injecting drugs live intransitional and developing countries
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,making it a signicant barrier inaccessing adequate HIV prevention,treatment, care and support services.70% o the world’s reported HIV casesare ound in Sub-Saharan Arica.However, injection driven transmis-sion hubs have been identied inChina, Indonesia, India, Vietnam,Argentina, Russia and Ukraine,among other countries
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. In addition,estimates rom the UN SecretaryGeneral state that 92% o people whoinject drugs in low and middle-incomecountries have no access to HIVprevention services and less than 5%have access to HIV prevention, treat-ment, care and support. Until this gapis addressed, the goal o universalaccess by 2010 will not be achieved.
HARMREDUCTION– EVIDENCEBASED HIVPREVENTION
Harm reduction is a comprehensivepublic health and human rightsapproach that aims to reduce thesocial, health and economic harmsassociated with substance use. Itis based on providing care, supportand resources in a non-judgmentalenvironment, and avoiding urtherstigmatisation o people who usedrugs. It promotes the idea o saeruse and seeks to provide servicessuch as syringe exchanges, saeinjection sites, substitution treat-ment programs and party/dance saeprograms, to name a ew.Needle and Syringe ExchangePrograms have signicantly con-tributed to the reduction o HIVtransmission among people who usedrugs. Contrary to what some maybelieve, research shows that serviceslike Needle and Syringe ExchangePrograms and sae injection sitesdo not lead to or increase drug usein communities
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. These services areoten the rst place where peoplewho use drugs can come into contactwith other health services such asprimary health care and treatment.Harm reduction is an essential ap-proach to addressing the issue o HIVas the epidemic evolves and developsin new ways. Harm reduction is alsogrounded in human rights: ensuringthat everyone’s right to health, educa-tion and inormation is met.Harm reduction services are key toaddressing HIV amongst people whouse injecting drugs, but they are notavailable in many communities.
“Harm reduction must be a central theme, it must not be an afterthought.The world has to awaken”
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Stephen Lewis, XVI International AIDS Conference 
INJECTIONDRUG USE –HIV AND AIDS –YOUNG PEOPLERECOGNISING THELINKAGES
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1.
Johal, Am.” International AIDS Activist Stephen Lewis”. October 2007. www.worldpress.org
2.
United Nations Oce on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2007
3.
United Nations Oce on Drugs and Crime. World Drug Report 2005
4.
C Aceijas, GV Stimson, M Hickman, T Rhodes. Global Overview o Injection Drug Use and HIV Inec-tion among injecting Drug Users.AIDS, 2004.
5.
World Health Organisation. Advocacy guide: HIV/AIDS prevention among injecting users: workshopmanual / World Health Organization, UNAIDS.2004
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