ABSTRACT
There is a popular view that the reason why injecting drug users share each other’s injecting equipment is that they are unconcerned with their health and the health of others. There is now sufficient evidence from studies carried out in many countries worldwide that injectors are concerned with their own and others’ health. Studies of drug injectors from both developed (Celentano et al., 1994) and developing countries (Bueno et al., 1996; Des Jarlais et al., 1994) have shown that where they are given information and resources, injectors have made significant reductions in their HIV-related risk behaviour. Much the most impressive reductions have occurred in relation to the sharing of injecting equipment; however, recent research has shown that injecting drug users are also able to reduce their sexual risk behaviour (Friedman et al., 1994; Vanichseni et al., 1993).
