HIV and Injecting Drug Use: A New Challenge to Sustainable Human Development

The HIV epidemic is a new, complex phenomenon in the world today. It is challenging accepted ways of understanding health and human development, and is demanding new forms of expertise and a more integrated and collaborative development practice. It is raising significant conceptual, ethical and programmatic issues.

From the beginning, the HIV and Development Programme has drawn attention to the complex and dynamic relationship which exists between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and development. Many of the commonly acknowledged impediments to development, such as social and economic inequality, environmental degradation, political instability, civil disorder and the absence of good governance are also key driving forces behind the spread and unfolding of the HIV epidemic.

Through its extensive range of publications, and in particular through its series of Issues Papers, the Programme has encouraged consideration of the epidemic in relation to critical (and sometimes neglected) aspects of development. This tradition is continued here in a paper which explores different aspects of the relationships between HIV, injecting drug use and development.

This paper is the result of extensive review of available documentation and dialogue with a range of partners in the field. It is neither exhaustive nor definitive, nor is it intended to be so. As an Issues Paper, it is most appropriately considered a 'working draft': the distillation of experience, reflection and observation from the perspective of an experienced, engaged practitioner.

The paper has been reviewed and revised several times over, with each new version generating further questions and discussion: providing some indication of its success as a trigger for discussion and as a tool towards enhanced understanding of UNDP's role in relation to them.

As with all Issues Papers, the views expressed in this paper are those of the author and they do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Development Programme. We encourage reproduction of the material and welcome acknowledgement, comment and feedback.