DRUG USE VIA INJECTION MAY LEAD TO HIV EPIDEMIC

EDGAR, 37, was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the
precursor of AIDS infection sometime in early 1990s.

The native of Mindanao was in fourth-year College taking up Commerce
when he and some of his school friends try injecting tranquilizer --
using a common syringe and needles most of the times.

"'Yon (tranquilizer) ang 'in' dati. Parang sleeping pills ang effect,"
he told People's Tonight in a phone interview.

A volunteer of Positive Action Foundation Philippines, Inc., (PAFPI),
a non-government support group for individuals with HIV/AIDS and their
families, was into the habit of injecting illegal drugs for almost
three years.

He was tested positive for HIV while undergoing a routine checkup in
Taiwan.

The country's AIDS Registry listed seven injecting drug users (IDUs)
with HIV/AIDS from 1984 to 2005.

Health experts the other day have warned that IDU being one of the
four high-risk groups monitored by the DOH for HIV/AIDS may give rise
to the AIDS epidemic in the future.

The first IDU case was reported in Cebu in 1996.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of
the Department of Health, said that based on the 2005 Integrated HIV
Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance findings (IHBSS) there was an
estimated 11,168 HIV/AIDS positive in the country at present.

The 2,942 cases came from the high-risk groups and 339 were injecting
drug users; men who have sex with men (1,171); male clients of female
sex workers (1,136); and female sex workers (286).

The rest of the cases (8,226) belong to the general
population.

The Serological Surveillance was conducted in Pasay City, Quezon City
in Metro Manila, Baguio, Angeles City, Cebu, Ilo-ilo, General Santos,
Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao.

Tayag said two of the IDU cases were reported from Cebu.

The survey discovered that many of the IDUs share needles and about 81
percent of them tested positive for hepatitis C.

"This means na delikado tayo baka kumalat ang HIV/AIDS sa pamamagitan
ng injecting drug users. Meron din silang ibang risky behaviors like
unsafe sex with multiple sex partners at pagbebenta ng laman," Tayag
told People's Tonight. "Ganoon ang nangyari sa Indonesia, Thailand,
kaya aagapan natin 'yan."

The average age for IDUs is 29, Tayag said. But most of them began
using drugs at the age of 17 and started injecting drugs at 20.

"Ang ibig sabihin nito kung ang age of initiation mo ay 17 at
nag-umpisa ka sa marijuana, shabu. In three years time, mukhang
papunta ka na sa injecting drug use -- the ultimate na tinatawag," he
said. "Nobody stays na marijuana lang ang ginagamit."

About two-thirds of IDUs were single, while one-third were married or
were in a relationship. Twenty-nine percent of the surveyed IDUs
admitted that they used a common needle and syringe the last time they
inject drugs.

Tayag said that 80 percent of them apply alcohol and water to
sterilize the needle.

"Ang nililinis lang nila ay labas ng karayom, hindi nila nililinis ang
butas ng karayom so nandun 'yung dugo na puwedeng maka-infect sa 'yo,"
he noted.

For fear of arrest and prosecution, IDUs have been sharing syringe and
needles during their drug sessions. "So kung ano na lang ang needle na
available 'yun ang gagamitin nila para huwag silang mabisto."

Tayag has warned that not only the high-risk groups are prone to
transmit the AIDS virus. He said even the general population should
take precautions against HIV/AIDS. "It doesn't mean that we are safe
from acquiring the infection just because we don't belong to the
high-risk group."

"Ang message namin lahat ng high-risk group. May concern lang kami sa
IDU kasi baka 'yon ang pagmulan ng pagkalat ng epidemya," Tayag said.

"Ang nakakaalarma rito is kung tama ang estimates namin, marami tayo
sa general population. Dahil sa intervention natin ay sa high-risk
groups lang naka-focus especially female sex workers -- baka
makaligtaan ang general population."

Health officials will embark on two strategies to address both the
high-risk groups and the general population, Tayag noted.

The DOH will study the present status of IDUs in Cebu even
recommending harm reduction approach to users.

"Dapat i-emphasize sa kanila na huwag magsi-share ng needle," Tayag
said.

Voluntary counseling and treatment clinics will be put up beginning
this year to encourage the general population to find out about HIV/AIDS.

The DOH also intends to establish test clinics to hasten results of
HIV screening.

Currently, it takes weeks and even months to get the HIV test
result.

"Ngayon naman puwede na nating makuha the same day ang resulta."