Heroin users worldwide need 15 times more aid for HIV prevention, report says

Millions of heroin users around the world are at unnecessary risk of HIV and other infections because donors are underfunding projects to reduce harm in these groups.

That is the conclusion of a report published this week by the International Harm Reduction Association. Harm reduction projects supply clean syringes, heroin substitutes, and outreach.

On the basis of an epidemiological assessment the report recommends that philanthropic organisations spend a fifth of HIV prevention budgets on harm reduction among drug users.

“The amount being spent is pretty appalling. About 15-20 times more is needed to have any effect,” said Gerry Stimson, lead author of …