To the Editor: Australia has been successful so far in maintaining a low prevalence of HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDUs). This has been achieved by adopting a harm-reduction approach to the prevention of bloodborne virus transmission, including needle and syringe programs, methadone maintenance and peer-education. Sharing of needles and syringes has declined markedly: cross-sectional surveys among users of needle and syringe programs across Australia have shown a decrease in the prevalence of reported sharing from 31% in 1995 to 15% in 1997.1
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We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of Tom Carter, Beth Hatch and Jane Tomnay of the Victorian Department of Human Services in collecting additional HIV notification information. Thanks also to Lisa Maher and Margaret MacDonald for their assistance in providing additional information. Jane Hocking and Cathy Keenan were supported by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation.