Is comprehensive HIV prevention for drug users cost-effective?
Research has shown that the three complementary approaches that make up comprehensive HIV prevention for drug users community-based outreach, drug abuse treatment, and sterile syringe access programs are cost-effective. Comprehensive HIV prevention permits ongoing contact with drug users who may otherwise not be reached and provides them with information and opportunities to stop using drugs, to enter drug-abuse treatment, and to reduce their drug- and sex-related risks for HIV and other blood-borne infections. Cost-effectiveness studies have reported that, by preventing HIV infections, community-based outreach interventions help avert future medical costs associated with the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS (8). Similarly, drug abuse treatment programs are cost-effective in reducing drug use and its associated health and social costs, especially when compared to not treating addicts or to incarcerating them (2). Evaluations of sterile syringe access programs have demonstrated that by lo
