[The initial experience in supervised injecting facilities in Denmark].

Intravenous drug abuse is a major health concern. The National Board of Health estimates the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Denmark to be 13,000. Supervised injecting facilities (SIF) reduce the risk behaviour and bacterial infections and also increase the rate of detoxification and access to health care. The first SIF in Denmark is driven by volunteers and it opened in September 2011. In the first six months there were 1,139 visits. As in earlier studies the IDUs were mainly males with a long history of drug use. Unlike in previously published studies cocaine was the most commonly injected drug.