Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
This review aimed to comprehensively present the geographical variation in drug consumption patterns among the drug using population.
Findings/Key points
Of 40,427 studies screened, 394 were included from 81 countries. Globally, an estimated 78.1 % and 71.8 % of people who inject drugs had recently used (via any route) and injected heroin, while an estimated 52.8 % and 19.8 % had recently used and injected amphetamines, respectively. Over 90 % reported recent tobacco use, and recent alcohol use was 59.1 %. There is considerable variation in types of drugs and routes of administration used among people who inject drugs. This variation needs to be considered in national and global treatment and harm reduction interventions to target the specific behaviours and harms associated with these regional profiles of use.
Design/methods
Systematic searches of peer reviewed (PsycINFO, Medline, Embase) and grey literature published from 2008–2022 were conducted. Data on recent (past year) and lifetime drug use among people who inject drugs were included. Data were extracted on use of heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco; where possible, estimates were disaggregated by route of administration (injecting, non-injecting, smoking). National estimates were generated and, where possible, regional, and global estimates were derived through meta-analysis.
