Follow up of a cohort of intravenous heroin users in north and south central Dublin and in Dun Laoghaire

Three studies of intravenous heroin abusers, in electoral wards in the north and south of central Dublin and in Dun Laoghaire, were undertaken in 1982-84. One hundred and one out of the 203 intravenous injectors in these three studies are known to have been tested in Dublin for infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and 87 of the 101, or 86% are HIV Positive. Ninety two had also been tested for Hepatitis B infection (Hab) and 76 of the 92 were positive for the hepatitis antigen. The majority of those at present known to be HIV Positive in the Republic of Ireland are, or were, intravenous drug users.