The role of drug consumption rooms in HIV prevention

In this moment, Romania is facing a new epidemiological wave of HIV infections. If in 2008 there were just three confirmed cases with HIV infection, in 2012 there were 237 new, confirmed cases (Ref: National Institute of Infectious Diseases, “Prof.Dr. M. Balş”). In September 2012, the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, in collaboration with the National Antidrug Agency and the Carusel Association performed a Behaviour Surveillance Study among injecting drug users in Bucharest and Ilfov, Romania.

Out of 417 participants tested with rapid test in this study 52.5% were positive to HIV, 85% with Hepatitis C virus, and 20% with Hepatitis B virus (National Anti‑Drug Agency, Report for 2013). Injecting drugs in public areas increases the risk of infections with different bacterias. Another major risk that drug users have when they are using drug in public places is the lack of sterile injecting equipment, therefore they have a big risk of getting infected with HIV, HVC and HVB. Drug consumption rooms could play an important role in preventing the risks associated with the use of drugs.

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