170. Poor Engagement in Substance Use Treatment and HIV Services Among Adolescents and Young Adults Who Inject Drugs in India

Abstract

The misuse of opioids is increasingly a global epidemic. India has experienced burgeoning HIV epidemics in several regions that are primarily driven by an alarming rise in injection of opioids. Among the ∼850,000 people who inject drugs (PWID) in India, at least a quarter are adolescents and young adults (YPWID: 15-24 years) who have the highest HIV incidence. There is limited data on substance use treatment and HIV testing gaps in this population. We established Integrated Care Centers (ICCs) across 8 Indian cities, which provide single-window free HIV services and daily observed buprenorphine treatment in a stigma-free environment.