Shooting Up report

Every year the Health Protection Agency in the UK carries out an anonymous survey of the behaviours of injecting drug users. This is accompanied by an oral mouth swab that is sent off for testing around a range of injecting related viruses like HepC and HIV.

This years report has just been released (Oct 23rd). This is essential reading for all UK drug workers and injecting drug users, as it allows us to understand the levels of risk encountered and give recommendations on how to combat the situation.

Synopsis of main findings

• Transmission of HIV and hepatitis C infection through injecting drug use remains higher than in the late 1990s. Overall, around two-fifths of injecting drug users are now infected with hepatitis C and about one in 73 with HIV.
• Injecting site infections are common, with around one third of injecting drug users reporting an abscess, sore, or open wound at an injecting site in the last year.
• Injecting into the groin and the injection of crack cocaine, which are associated with higher levels of infection and risky injecting, have become more common.
• Needle and syringe sharing has declined in recent years with around a fifth of injecting drug users continuing to share. The sharing of other injecting equipment is more common.
• There has been a marked increase in the number of injecting drug users receiving the hepatitis B vaccine, with over two-thirds now reporting vaccination.
• Services to reduce injecting-related harm and support for those who want to stop injecting should continue to be developed in line with published guidance.

Of course these are the findings covering just the UK. In the USA there is a similar study covering American risk behaviours, you can find this here.

The full version of the Shooting Up report can be found here.