?Being an active drug user is not a valid criterion for denying an individual access to HIV treatment and care.? - Mauro Guarinieri, Chair of GNP+, former injecting drug user

The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) today released their Joint Position Paper on Injecting Drug Users and Access to HIV Treatment.

More than two decades after the AIDS epidemic was first recognized, HIV transmission through injecting drug use is an increasingly serious public health problem in many parts of the world. Recent estimates indicate that on a global scale at least 10 percent of all new HIV infections can be attributed to injecting drug use. When one excludes Africa, the percentage rises to 30 percent.

Researching the position paper GNP+ and ICW were shocked to find injecting drug users have a disproportioned low level of access to antiretroviral therapy.

Even though in some countries injecting drug users account for up to 80 percent of HIV infections, injecting drug users represent only 7 percent of the people on antiretroviral therapy.

Press release

Position paper available in English, Spanish and Russian