Injecting drug users (IDU)

Rates of HIV infection among injecting drug users have remained relatively low in most parts of Europe, largely as a result of harm-reduction efforts, but such efforts vary throughout Europe.

HIV transmission through the sharing of injecting equipment is still a problem in several Western European countries, although it largely affects older users.  The majority of new diagnoses are in individuals over the age of 30.

In Western Europe 8% of new HIV diagnoses in 2006 were attributed to injecting drug use.  Portugal and Spain report the highest numbers of HIV transmission through injecting drug use. 33% of new diagnoses in Portugal were attributed to injecting drug use (Spanish reports are not yet available). 17% of new diagnoses in Ireland and 10% of new diagnoses in Sweden were amongst injecting drug users.

In Central Europe, injecting drug use accounts for the majority of transmissions in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.