LOW AND STABLE PREVALENCE OF HIV AMONG DRUG INJECTORS IN GLASGOW

The first HIV-positive diagnosis among injecting drug users (IDU) in G lasgow was made in 1985. By the end of 1987 prevalence among IDU recei ving voluntary attributable tests was 4.8%. Since 1990, an annual cros s-sectional survey of HIV prevalence and risk behaviours among 500 cur rent Glasgow IDU has provided a more representative sample. Anonymousl y-tested saliva samples obtained from respondents revealed prevalence rates of 1.8%, 1.2% and 1.0% in 1990, 1991 and 1992 respectively. Siin ce 1987 a wide range of measures aimed at reducing HIV-related risk be haviour among IDU has been introduced and maintained in Glasgow. Again st this background, there is evidence that IDU in the city have reduce d their risk behaviours. The findings reported here suggest that imple menting harm-reduction measures when prevalence is low may inhibit the rapid dissemination of HIV.