[Attitudes and practices of drug users confronted with the risks of contamination by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C viruses].

This study has been conducted in Lille, Marseille, Metz, Paris and its suburbs using an ethnographic methodology. A total number of 1,703 subjects using injectable drugs have been interviewed in the streets and in treatments centers. The result of the study are as follows: sharing syringes did progressively decrease since 1988; reusing syringes and sharing of the injection equipment maintained itself during the same time period; a decrease of HIV seroprevalence; a massive HVC contamination; qualitative and quantitative data do suggest the important role played by the multiple use of the same syringes and the sharing of the injection equipment.