An analysis of the effects of HIV infection in a cohort of intravenous drug users.

Intravenous drug use has been a serious problem for Dublin's deprived inner city areas since the late 1970's. In 1985, a cohort of all known intravenous drug users (IVDUs) was identified in one inner city electoral cohort and has been followed since then. The cohort was identified before the introduction of HIV testing. The prevalence of HIV infection and its consequences have continued to rise. By 1994, 80% of the group were known to have had a HIV test: 53 (65%) are seropositive. Twenty-one (26%) have died, almost all from the seropositive group. Thirty-six (44%) continued to inject heroin during 1994. The implications of these grim statistics are discussed.