Concern over rise in number of injecting drug users

HEALTH experts yesterday expressed concern at an increase in the number of injecting drug users and warned of a rise in infectious diseases and overdoses.

Official figures show that 66% of people in treatment in 2000 had injected drugs, compared to 55% in 1996.

In addition, 76% of injecting users said they had shared their syringes, compared to 69% in 1996.