In France, it is generally accepted that the implementation of harm reduction policies (HRP)—including access to clean syringes and the widespread distribution of opioid substitution therapy (OST) beginning in the 1990s—has helped to "control" the HIV epidemic among people who use drugs (PWUD). Trends in reported HIV prevalence data among drug-using populations in France over time do indeed show a downward trend. This has reportedly resulted in a significant decline in the rate of new infections, falling from 20% in the early 1990s to less than 10% in 2008 (2010 collective expert report). The situation is more concerning for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), whose prevalence reached 73% among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in 2006 (Jauffret-Roustide, Couturier et al. 2006). Intravenous injection is the primary mode of HCV transmission among drug users, not only through the sharing of syringes but also through the sharing of preparation equipment (containers, filters, swabs, water), which may be contaminated with the blood of an infected person (HCV is highly resistant and can remain active for a long time when exposed to air).[article excerpt]