The recent shift to watersoluble drugs among Colombia's drug cartels has
led to a greater incidence of HIV transmission via intravenous drug use,
according to researchers from the University of Miami.

In the November 29 issue of the Lancet, Maria Jose Miguez and colleagues
write in a letter to the editor that Colombian users of illegal drugs
typically have preferred inhalants to intravenous drugs, due to their
relative low cost and ease of access.

However, the authors note, increased control of the country's major drug
cartels has led to trafficking in heroin and other lowquality,
watersoluble drugs among subcartels.

Meanwhile, the incidence of HIV infection due to intravenous drug use has
risen.

In fact, the authors report that 13,355 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in
Colombia between Jan. 1, 1983 and July 1, 1995, and none were attributed to
intravenous drug use. Comparatively, 6,154 new HIV/AIDS cases have been
reported since January 1995, of which 33 have been attributed to drug use.

However, the authors investigated highrisk sexual behaviors and HIV
infection in the general population of Bogota, Colombia, only to find a
higher incidence of risk behaviors among people using cocaine than among
those using injected heroin.

Still, the authors urge the Colombian government to develop strategies to
prevent the spread of intravenous drug use and HIV.