5th Edition of Addiction World Conference 2026

Abstract

Background: Injecting drug use was considered to be a leading route of HIV transmission in the early stages of the HIV epidemic in Georgia. The estimated number of PWID is 51,000 in Georgia with 2.23% national prevalence problem drug use among 18-64 years old individuals (2022 ). Simplified lite-BBS methodology was developed to assess risky behaviors and HIV/HCV testing uptake among PWIDs and Generate evidence for advocacy, policy-making, and programming in 2023.
Methods: 2000 PWIDs were recruited through combined methodology of on-site consecutive recruitment at Needle and Syringes Program (NSP) sites and mobile outreach, and snowball sampling. The study was conducted in seven major cities. A brief questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews with participants. Blood samples were taken to measure HIV and HCV prevalence and HCV reinfection.  
Results: 51.3% of study participants never used the HR services, and 54% (1080/2000) did not use HR services during the last two years. Among new clients, 19% were recruited through outreach, 60% through the "snowball" method, and 21% through HR service sites.  The mean age of respondents was 42 years (SD 10 years). Female participants, in general, were older than male participants (borderline significant), and new clients were younger than existing clients (statistically significant). The most common drugs injected the last time were opioids apart from heroin (56%), followed by heroin 30% (598) and cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants

Both new and existing clients of HR program most commonly engage in the drug injecting activity "once a day" (24% and 29% respectively). "2-3 times per week" and "few times per month" were also relatively common for both groups. Out of 2000 study participants, 8.4% (168/2000) reported they had experienced an overdose during the last year.
During the last injection, sharing drug preparation other equipment was mentioned by 34% of respondents, but Ninety-96% percent reported using sterile needle and syringe the last time they injected. 19% reported injecting practice while abroad in the last 12 months, including countries with no harm reduction programs Turkey (29%), Russia (6%).
During the last 12 months, 32% of respondents accessed medical facilities for addiction-related treatment. usage of condoms during the last sexual intercourse was reported by 33% of respondents. Out of the total cohort, 81% had HIV testing experience. HIV prevalence was 1.5%.
Conclusions: BSS-Lite study provided a good alternative for reaching out to new clients and assess the drug injecting practices in PWIDs not currently utilizing the harm reduction services. Risky sex behavior among PWID remains challenging and requires attention of harm reduction program to develop targeted peer driven interventions to address  it.