HIV cases drop
among Illinois drug users

The number of new HIV cases diagnosed among injection-drug users in Illinois has dropped 40% since 2003, according to data released by the Illinois's public-health department. New HIV cases among drug users dropped from 274 in 2003 to 162 in 2005. AIDS advocates say the decline is largely due to a new law allowing adults to purchase syringes from pharmacies without a prescription. The law took effect in 2003. (The Advocate)