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Preventing transmission
of HIV from direct blood-to-blood contact,
for example between injection drug users (IDUs)
who share needles and other injecting equipment,
is a challenge. Harm reduction techniques (e.g.
cleaning needles and syringes with bleach before
and after use), needle exchange programs, and
supervised injection facilities (like InSite in Vancouver)
are effective but not always practical or
available. Of course, an HIV+
IDU can also transmit the
virus through sexual contact.
Drug-induced disinhibition
and impaired judgment may
hamper the use of safer sex
precautions such as condoms,
increasing the chances of
passing on HIV.
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