NCJ Number
128190
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1991) Pages: 73-82
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Intravenous drug use (IVDU) has been cited as the cause for 120, or approximately 3 percent, of the AIDS cases in Canada. Of these, 76 percent reported a possible homosexual risk of transmission as well.
Abstract
Despite the seemingly small numbers, Canada ranks seventh in the world in the number of AIDS-IVDU cases. Intravenous drug users (IVDUs), however, have a large potential to spread HIV infection through needle sharing and sexual contact. It is also possible that the number of cases has been underreported; it is estimated that only 84 percent of the actual AIDS cases in Canada are included in overall surveillance data. While HIV rates among IVDUs in Canada appears to be relatively low, according to the little research that has been conducted, the number of AIDS-IVDU cases is also small because of the low level of injection drug use nationally. Rates of injection drug use and needle sharing are highest among groups of high risk youth including prostitutes, known drug abusers, and youthful offenders. There is a need in Canada to develop more effective HIV education programs to encourage safe injection practices and other preventive measures. 1 note and 32 references (Author abstract modified)