MAJORITY OF ADDICTS BORROWED A SYRINGE, STUDY SHOWS

SEVEN in 10 drug abusers surveyed said they borrowed a used syringe from
another addict on at least one occasion - putting themselves at risk of HIV
and other infectious diseases, according to a study.

The study looked at unsafe injecting practices employed by drug users in
Dublin between 1997 and 1999.

The investigations carried out by Dr Joe Barry, Dr Bobby Smyth and Dr
Eamonn Keenan, involved interviews with 250 drug injectors about their
practices over the previous six months.

The numbers of people borrowing syringes, which increases the risk of
getting an infectious disease, were regarded as high by international
standards.

While most of those who borrowed syringes did so only rarely the worrying
fact was that a large proportion were involved in this behaviour. The most
common risk involved sharing equipment which was used to cook up heroin.
Some 72pc reported they had filled the syringe from another injector's used
syringe.

This practice was continuing despite the injectors knowing that it carried
risks of getting HIV. Many wrongly believed they could minimise the risk by
selecting the people from whom they borrowed syringes.

It comes as another report shows that one in five 18-year-olds across
Europe have experimented with cannabis, but heroin use among EU citizens
remains low.

The EU report on the drugs problem in Europe confirmed that the growing
trend of drug abuse in Ireland is repeated around Europe.