Maintaining low HIV seroprevalence in populations of injecting drug users

Don C. Des Jarlais; Holly Hagan; Samuel R. Friedman; Patricia Friedmann; David Goldberg; Martin Frischer; Steven Green; Kerstin Tunving; Bengt Ljungberg; Alex Wodak; Michael Ross; David Purchase; Margaret E. Millson; Ted Myers

doi:10.1001/jama.274.15.1226

Maintaining low HIV seroprevalence in populations of injecting drug users

Don C. Des Jarlais^*, Holly Hagan, Samuel R. Friedman, Patricia Friedmann, David Goldberg, Martin Frischer, Steven Green, Kerstin Tunving, Bengt Ljungberg, Alex Wodak, Michael Ross, David Purchase, Margaret E. Millson, Ted Myers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

228 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives. - To describe prevention activities and risk behavior in cities where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was introduced into the local population of injecting drug users (IDUs), but where seroprevalence has nevertheless remained low (Interventions. - A variety of HIV prevention activities for IDUs had been implemented in each of the five cities.
Results. - There were three common prevention components present in all five cities: (1) implementation of prevention activities when HIV seroprevalence was still low, (2) provision of sterile injection equipment, and (3) community outreach to IDUs. Moderate levels of risk behavior continued with one third or more of the IDUs reporting recent unsafe injections.
Conclusions. - In low-seroprevalence areas, it appears possible to severely limit transmission of HIV among populations of IDUs, despite continuing risk behavior among a substantial proportion of the population. Pending further studies, the common prevention components (beginning early, community outreach, and access to sterile injection equipment) should be implemented wherever populations of IDUs are at risk for rapid spread of HIV.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1226-1231
Number of pages	6
Journal	JAMA
Volume	274
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.274.15.1226
Publication status	Published - 18 Oct 1995
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1001/jama.274.15.1226

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@article{f4d41fcbfa95406c8ee8721c35c4a907,

title = "Maintaining low HIV seroprevalence in populations of injecting drug users",

abstract = "Objectives. - To describe prevention activities and risk behavior in cities where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was introduced into the local population of injecting drug users (IDUs), but where seroprevalence has nevertheless remained low (Interventions. - A variety of HIV prevention activities for IDUs had been implemented in each of the five cities. Results. - There were three common prevention components present in all five cities: (1) implementation of prevention activities when HIV seroprevalence was still low, (2) provision of sterile injection equipment, and (3) community outreach to IDUs. Moderate levels of risk behavior continued with one third or more of the IDUs reporting recent unsafe injections. Conclusions. - In low-seroprevalence areas, it appears possible to severely limit transmission of HIV among populations of IDUs, despite continuing risk behavior among a substantial proportion of the population. Pending further studies, the common prevention components (beginning early, community outreach, and access to sterile injection equipment) should be implemented wherever populations of IDUs are at risk for rapid spread of HIV.",

author = "{Des Jarlais}, {Don C.} and Holly Hagan and Friedman, {Samuel R.} and Patricia Friedmann and David Goldberg and Martin Frischer and Steven Green and Kerstin Tunving and Bengt Ljungberg and Alex Wodak and Michael Ross and David Purchase and Millson, {Margaret E.} and Ted Myers",

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doi = "10.1001/jama.274.15.1226",

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T1 - Maintaining low HIV seroprevalence in populations of injecting drug users

AU - Des Jarlais, Don C.

AU - Hagan, Holly

AU - Friedman, Samuel R.

AU - Friedmann, Patricia

AU - Goldberg, David

AU - Frischer, Martin

AU - Green, Steven

AU - Tunving, Kerstin

AU - Ljungberg, Bengt

AU - Wodak, Alex

AU - Ross, Michael

AU - Purchase, David

AU - Millson, Margaret E.

AU - Myers, Ted

PY - 1995/10/18

Y1 - 1995/10/18

N2 - Objectives. - To describe prevention activities and risk behavior in cities where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was introduced into the local population of injecting drug users (IDUs), but where seroprevalence has nevertheless remained low (Interventions. - A variety of HIV prevention activities for IDUs had been implemented in each of the five cities. Results. - There were three common prevention components present in all five cities: (1) implementation of prevention activities when HIV seroprevalence was still low, (2) provision of sterile injection equipment, and (3) community outreach to IDUs. Moderate levels of risk behavior continued with one third or more of the IDUs reporting recent unsafe injections. Conclusions. - In low-seroprevalence areas, it appears possible to severely limit transmission of HIV among populations of IDUs, despite continuing risk behavior among a substantial proportion of the population. Pending further studies, the common prevention components (beginning early, community outreach, and access to sterile injection equipment) should be implemented wherever populations of IDUs are at risk for rapid spread of HIV.

AB - Objectives. - To describe prevention activities and risk behavior in cities where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was introduced into the local population of injecting drug users (IDUs), but where seroprevalence has nevertheless remained low (Interventions. - A variety of HIV prevention activities for IDUs had been implemented in each of the five cities. Results. - There were three common prevention components present in all five cities: (1) implementation of prevention activities when HIV seroprevalence was still low, (2) provision of sterile injection equipment, and (3) community outreach to IDUs. Moderate levels of risk behavior continued with one third or more of the IDUs reporting recent unsafe injections. Conclusions. - In low-seroprevalence areas, it appears possible to severely limit transmission of HIV among populations of IDUs, despite continuing risk behavior among a substantial proportion of the population. Pending further studies, the common prevention components (beginning early, community outreach, and access to sterile injection equipment) should be implemented wherever populations of IDUs are at risk for rapid spread of HIV.

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DO - 10.1001/jama.274.15.1226

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AN - SCOPUS:0028787806

SN - 0098-7484

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SP - 1226

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JO - JAMA

JF - JAMA

IS - 15

ER -

Maintaining low HIV seroprevalence in populations of injecting drug users

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Documents and Links

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