Injection Drug Abuse Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment: 1992 and 2009. The TEDS Report

摘要

Injection drug abuse involves the use of needles to inject substances such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or other drugs into the bloodstream. The behaviors associated with injection drug use, such as reusing and sharing needles, can increase the users risk for contracting and spreading bloodborne infections such as herpes simplex, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Substance abuse treatment providers can play a significant role in reducing injection drug use and the transmission of infectious diseases. Monitoring trends in injection drug use treatment admissions may help public health officials and treatment providers to identify emerging patterns and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies aimed at reducing this high-risk behavior.