INCREASING POPULARITY OF INJECTION AS THE ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION OF AMPHETAMINE IN EDINBURGH

Six hundred and thirty four interviews of injecting drug users were pe rformed between 1992 and 1994 as part of a study of injecting drug use and HIV prevalence in Edinburgh, Scotland. Amphetamine was injected b y more subjects (44%) than any other drug. Preference for injection as the route of administration of amphetamine increased over the period despite no change in the popularity of the drug generally. Simultaneou sly, heroin use and injection declined. Analyses indicated that amphet amine injectors comprised two distinct sub-groups. The majority were p olydrug injectors who injected frequently, had a longer injecting hist ory and were more likely to share injection equipment. About one-fifth were stimulant-only injectors who injected infrequently, were relativ ely recent initiates to injecting and whose numbers increased over the 3 years. Drug treatment and prevention services may need to explore a lternative methods to respond effectively to these emerging trends. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.