Unfolding Tragedy in Ukraine
Journal: Journal of AIDS and HIV infections
Year: 2015

In bold contrast with most other countries in the Eurasian region, Ukraine legalized opioid substitution therapy (OST) for injection drug users in 2004. OST provides addicts with drugs that safely substitute for heroin and ease dependence, all under the supervision of trained support staff. With HIV prevalence estimated around 20% among the country's 250,000 active opiate users, and needle sharing and other unsafe injection practices unquestionably the leading mode of HIV transmission in the reg