Drugs abuse‚ however‚ still on the rise‚ say organizations HIV prevalence among injecting drug users in the country has significantly decreased after the initiation of harm reduction programme, one of the evidence-based strategies to fight drug use problem, say anti-drugs campaigners. According to the data of various sources compiled by Sathi Samuha, a community-led organisation working for the drug users and people living with HIV, the HIV prevalence among the IDUs has gone down to 3 per cent for far this year. It was 68 per cent in 2002. The data shows the prevalence was 9 per cent in 2012, 20 per cent in 2010, 38 per cent in 2007 and 54 per cent in 2005. Harm reduction involves multiple approaches, including drug substitution programmes like opioid substitution therapy (Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Buprenorphine Substitution therapy), outreach programmes and peer education, needle/syringe exchange programme, and condom distribution programme.

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