Current drug use patterns and HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in suburban areas of Malaysia

This study observed low HIV prevalence among PWID, primarily associated with ATS use, while HCV prevalence, linked to heroin use, remained high. Higher odds of being HCV positive among PWID who reported to have ever but not currently enrolled in methadone programmes indicate that treatment may not be continuous once initiated, potentially due to exposure to the criminal justice system. These findings underscore the need for a dual approach: enhanced harm reduction programmes for PWID and a legal reform to address potential barriers posed by criminalization.