Situation Analysis - Cambodia

Illicit drug use
The World Drug Report 2009 reports that amphetamine-type stimulants (81.3%), inhalants (9.7%), sedatives, opiates and cannabis are the most commonly used drugs in Cambodia among people treated for drug problems.

Prevalence of injecting drug use in Cambodia ranges between 0.01-0.09% of the adult population, an estimated 1,750 people who inject drugs (Mathers et al 2008).

HIV prevalence
In 2008, UNAIDS estimated that there were 75,000 people living with HIV in Cambodia. HIV prevalence in Cambodia is declining.

As of June 2007 HIV prevalence among adults (15-49) stood at 0.9%, down from 1.2% in 2003 (UNAIDS 2008). However, HIV prevalence among IDUs is estimated to be considerably higher at 22.8% (Mathers et al. 2008).

UNAIDS (2008) reports that injecting drug use (predominately heroin, also ATS) continues to be a serious issue for young people in Cambodia, including emerging links between the IDU, sex work & MSM epidemics. National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS) is completing an IDU population size estimate and HIV surveillance.