A study on drug control, by a UN agency revealed that drug addicts are becoming an easy prey to HIV virus.  According to a survey, Indians get exposed to alcohol as early as they attain the age of 17. In South Asia around 61.3 per cent of drug users are from India. The report by the United Nations Office on Drubs and Crime confirmed that around 71.8% injecting drug consumers in the country, are at the greatest risk of acquiring HIV.

The study reported an increase in the usage of pharmaceutical drugs against the conventional drugs like heroin and cannabis.

The survey of drug addicts across India disclosed that the drug users share needles and used syringes with fellow addicts and also borrowed syringes from other addicts.

Dr Suresh Kumar, author, UNODC Regional Drug Report said that “most of these people are sexually active. They rarely have safe sex so there is risk of transmitting to spouses and partners,''.

The study also revealed the usually unsafe sexual habits of the drug users. They had more than one sexual partner and merely 20% used preventive measures. In fact, among women drug addicts, some even turn to sex trade to fund their drug habit.

Dr Suresh Kumar, author, UNODC Regional Drug Report also agreed with the study that “most of these people are sexually active. They rarely have safe sex so there is risk of transmitting to spouses and partners,''.

The government will now use the study in its drug intervention programmes.

The report, brought out under the UN programme of Prevention of Transmission of HIV among drug users in SAARC countries, recommended an action plan to reduce the adverse consequences while highlighting the extent and nature of drug use in the South Asian region and its associated adverse health consequences.

Denis Broun, UNAIDS Country coordinator expressed the need to strengthen the comprehensive packages of service for drug users and their partners.