In the UK less than 3% of new HIV infections were attributed to injecting drug use in both 2000 and 2001. Drug users with a history of IVDU are highly likely to be co-infected with hepatitis B and C viruses, anywhere between 40 -100% depending on location (Brettle 2001) However, recent research has shown that 30% of IVDUs share needles and 60% share of other paraphernalia (www.nta.nhs.uk/programme/docs/Harmreductiondraftscopingpaper.pdf)

This has lead to an increase in Hepatitis C, especially amongst younger drug users, and suggests a risk of an increase of HIV amongst drug users.

Illegal drug use and alcohol use can impact on HIV-positive people in many ways.