Needle exchanges do not boost drug use, study says. IDU remains major HIV risk factor.
While the latest data show injection drug use remains a major factor in AIDS causes in the United States, a new study offers evidence that needle exchange programs do not cause an increase in injection drug use. CDC data show that HIV diagnoses reported among intravenous drug users has declined 42%, and most public health officials attribute that to needle exchange programs and other initiatives.
D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology