Illegal drug use and HIV-1 infection in Colombia

The patterns of drug use and the routes of HIV-1 infection in Colombia have been affected by the big drug cartels' preference for exporting water-soluble drugs to maximise revenue. In the past, Colombian users of illegal drugs preferred inhaled rather than intravenous drugs, possibly because of their comparatively low cost and ease of access, as well as profound effects. The most common inhaled drug was bazuco (coca base) which contains 30–90% cocaine and other alkaloids along with a variable mixture of chemical adulterants and marijuana.