In this article, the authors discuss a study that investigated the meaning
that injecting drug users attribute to risk behaviors linked to HIV transmi
ssion, especially through the use of nonsterile syringes or the failure to
use condoms. To do this, social discourses with respect to the prevention o
f HIV infection are evaluated. The discussion focuses on how these discours
es affect the daily practices of heroin users, practices that in turn influ
ence discourses. Ethnography was used to observe 78 heroin users and 35 peo
ple following a methadone treatment program. Observation was carried out in
a central district of Barcelona, Spain, with a low socioeconomic level. Th
e results are a useful starting point for generating strategies aimed at pr
eventing HIV transmission among this population an personal, community, and
sociostructural levels.