Publications
Annual Reports
The global epidemiology of injecting drug use and HIV among people who inject drugs: a systematic review
Mathers, B. Degenhardt, L. Phillips, B. Wiessing, L. Hickman, M. Strathdee, S. Wodak, A. Panda, S. Tyndall, M. Toufik, A. Mattick, R. P. and the Reference Group to the United Nations on HIV and injecting drug use.
The Lancet 2008, Volume 372 published online, 24 September 2008
Summary
Background:
Injecting drug use is an increasingly important cause of HIV transmission in most countries worldwide. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of injecting drug use among individuals aged 15–64 years, and of HIV among people who inject drugs.
Methods:
We did a systematic search of peer-reviewed (Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed/BioMed Central), internet, and grey literature databases; and data requests were made to UN agencies and international experts. 11 022 documents were reviewed, graded, and catalogued by the Reference Group to the UN on HIV and Injecting Drug Use.
Findings:
Injecting drug use was identified in 148 countries; data for the extent of injecting drug use was absent for many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The presence of HIV infection among injectors had been reported in 120 of these countries. Prevalence estimates of injecting drug use could be ascertained for 61 countries, containing 77% of the world’s total population aged 15–64 years. Extrapolated estimates suggest that 15·9 million (range 11·0–21·2 million) people might inject drugs worldwide; the largest numbers of injectors were found in China, the USA, and Russia, where mid-estimates of HIV prevalence among injectors were 12%, 16%, and 37%, respectively. HIV prevalence among injecting drug users was 20–40% in five countries and over 40% in nine. We estimate that, worldwide, about 3·0 million (range 0·8–6·6 million) people who inject drugs might be HIV positive.
Interpretation:
The number of countries in which the injection of drugs has been reported has increased over the last decade. The high prevalence of HIV among many populations of injecting drug users represents a substantial global health challenge. However, existing data are far from adequate, in both quality and quantity, particularly in view of the increasing importance of injecting drug use as a mode of HIV transmission in many regions.
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PRESS RELEASE: UN Report shows increased spread of HIV through drug injection
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Upcoming Publication
HIV prevention, treatment and care for people who inject drugs: A systematic review of global, regional and country level coverage
To better understand the global progress made in providing HIV prevention and care services for people who inject drugs, the Reference Group has completed a review of available data on the provision of a subset of measurable interventions which include: Needle Syringe Programs, Opioid Substitution Therapy, other drug treatment, HIV Testing and Counselling, Anti-Retroviral Therapy, and condom provision for injecting drug users.
Details of this review will be updated next year.
Thematic Papers
Currently Available
The Benefits and risks of pharmaceutical opioids: Essential treatment and diverted medication. A global review of availability, extra-medical use, injection and the association with HIV
- Louisa Degenhardt, Briony Larance, Bradley Mathers, Tasnim Azim,Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Richard Mattick, Samiran Panda, Abdalla Toufik,Mark Tyndall, Lucas Wiessing and Alex Wodak
Forthcoming Papers
- Mortality among people who inject drugs: Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Women who inject drugs: A review of their risks, experiences and needs
2002-2006 Reference Group Publications