About: History

The historical process leading to the formation of GRN began in 1997 when the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in collaboration with the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other domestic and international researchers, reviewed findings from research on the effectiveness of community-based interventions designed to reduce risk behaviours and to prevent the spread of HIV in drug-using populations. This review led to the recognition of the need for an international forum to facilitate the exchange of science-based knowledge on HIV prevention among drug users.

At a meeting in Geneva in 1998, planned by NIDA in collaboration with UNAIDS, collaborators established a global network for researchers from various countries, regions and international organizations to discuss HIV prevention in drug-using populations.

Subsequent meetings were held in the following locations:

• 1999 -- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• 2000 -- Durban, South Africa
• 2001 -- Melbourne, Australia
• 2002 -- Barcelona, Spain
• 2004 -- Montreal, Canada
• 2005 -- Ottawa, Canada

GRN Publications

• 1998 GRN Meeting Report (PDF)
• 1999 GRN Meeting Report (PDF)
• 2001 GRN Meeting Report (PDF)
• 2002 GRN Meeting Abstracts (PDF)