In order to reach these individuals, programs must be sensitive, non-judgmental, multifaceted, and innovative in nature. Data from Canada and a number of other countries show that drug users can and do try to protect themselves and others from HIV infection. Studies of cities with syringe exchanges and other harm reduction programs show the spread of HIV among injection drug users can be slowed and even halted. In many cases, however, our current preventive measures are inadequate for the purposes of significantly reducing the spread of HIV among drug users on a long term basis. It is important to mobilize drug users, their partners and those who work with them to encourage them to adopt harm reduction practices such as the use of clean needles and condoms.
People practice risky behaviours for complex reasons related to attitudes, pressures and barriers.
It is only through training, research and cooperation that we will be able to deal adequately and humanely with this complex and compelling problem. The mandate of the group was to assess the level of HIV infection among Canadian injection drug users, to identify issues, and to make recommendations about the development of national strategies to reduce the transmission of HIV associated with injection drug use in Canada. Because of the concern regarding the spread of HIV in Canada, the NAC-AIDS Working Group recommended, in early 1989, that a national workshop be held on this topic. Sponsored jointly by the Federal Centre for AIDS, Health and Welfare Canada, NAC-AIDS and the Canadian Public Health Association AIDS Education and Awareness Program, this workshop provided the first opportunity in Canada for those working in the AIDS and injection drug use fields to exchange information and experiences from various communities across the country. More than 120 participants from many disciplines and affiliations and many areas of Canada attended this meeting.