also of concern is the reported suspension of opioid substitution treatment in the autonomous republic of crimea and the city of sevastopol since march which reportedly has had serious consequences on the patients who were receiving such treatment worldwide the highest prevalence rates of persons who inject drugs continue to be found in eastern and southeastern europe approximately per cent of the estimated global number of persons who abuse drugs by injection and are living with hiv reside in eastern and southeastern europe for example ukraine reported a prevalence rate of hiv infection of per cent among injecting drug users