title: Vital Signs: Trends in HIV Diagnoses, Risk Behaviors, and Prevention Among Persons Who Inject Drugs - United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for poor health outcomes and bloodborne infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infections. Although substantial progress has been made in reducing HIV infections among PWID, recent changes in drug use could challenge this success.
  
  
  METHODS
  CDC used National HIV Surveillance System data to analyze trends in HIV diagnoses. Further, National HIV Behavioral Surveillance interviews of PWID in 22 cities were analyzed to describe risk behaviors and use of prevention services among all PWID and among PWID who first injected drugs during the 5 years before their interview (new PWID).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2008-2014, HIV diagnoses among PWID declined in urban and nonurban areas, but have leveled off in recent years. Among PWID in 22 cities, during 2005-2015, syringe sharing decreased by 34% among blacks/African Americans (blacks) and by 12% among Hispanics/Latinos (Hispanics), but remained unchanged among whites. The racial composition of new PWID changed during 2005-2015: the percentage who were black decreased from 38% to 19%, the percentage who were white increased from 38% to 54%, and the percentage who were Hispanic remained stable. Among new PWID interviewed in 2015, whites engaged in riskier injection behaviors than blacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreases in HIV diagnoses among PWID indicate success in HIV prevention. However, emerging behavioral and demographic trends could reverse this success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Access to comprehensive prevention services is essential for all PWID. Syringe services programs reduce syringe sharing and can help PWID access prevention and treatment services for HIV and other bloodborne diseases, such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Cyprian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wejnert
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: H Irene
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Handel
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Demorah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prejean
authors.affiliation: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Valleroy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult