ABSTRACT
Oneoftheaimsofdrugtreatmentservicesistofosteramorehealthconscious drug-usingpopulation.Thoroughphysicalandpsychologicalassessmentmaybean importanttriggertopromotingaprocessofchange.Thiscouldleadtolessharmful drugusesuchasnon-injectingdruguseorpreferablytoadrug-freestate.Increased attentionisnowfocusedonphysicalproblemswhichmaybeduetohuman immunodeficiencyvirus(IDV)infection.AsIDV-infectedindividualsbecome progressivelymoreimmunocompromisedtheywillexperienceincreasedratesof infectivecomplicationssuchaspneumonia,septicaemia,endocarditisand tuberculosis.Healthplannerspredictconsiderableincreaseindemandsonboth in-patientandout-patientmedicaltreatmentfacilitieswiththespreadofmvinthe drug-usingpopulation.Mortalityratesinthedrug-usingpopulationwithoutHIV infectionareestimatedat1-2percentperannum.Cumulativemortalityof individualsinfectedwithmvisstilluncertainbutisestimatedat80--95percent.
