Injection is increasingly becoming the prevalent route of administration among younger heroin users admitted to treatment, according to data from the national Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

Since 1995, the percentage of primary heroin treatment admissions ages 29 and younger who reported injection as their usual route of administration has increased steadily, from 53% to 72% in 2004.

At the same time, the percentage of older heroin treatment admissions (age 30 and older) who reported injection as their usual route of administration has decreased from 82% in 1992 to 59% in 2004.

One possible explanation for this trend is that younger heroin users perceive less social stigma and/or risk of contracting HIV/AIDS associated with injecting drug use than do their older counterparts.

 For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF file at www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol15/15-46.pdf.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from The Center on Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.