Situaţia tinerilor consumatori de droguri injectabile din România The situation of young people injecting drugs in Romania Section Articles

Abstract

In recent years, Romania is facing an explosion in the number of injecting drug users (IDU). Young injecting drug users are considered a group of high risk for HIV infection, which cannot be ignored by the public policies. The research aimed at evaluating the risk behaviours of these young people, being the first time when Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) is used in Romania. The quantitative research has been supplemented by a qualitative research, aiming at better understanding and describing the risk behaviours. The main subjects/dimensions included in the research have been related to the risk associated with drug use, sexual risk behaviours, procurement of clean/safe injecting equipment, knowledge on HIV/AIDS, interactions with the police and the authorities, access to services. Based on the results of the research, recommendations for changes of social policies are included.