At the same time, the proportion of AIDS among gay and bisexual men has fallen. Intravenous drug users continue to be the major channel of HIV infection to children and heterosexuals. It is projected that by 1991, there will be over 40,000 cumulative AIDS cases in New York City, with close to 30,000 deaths. Controlling the spread of HIV infection among drug addicts, children, and heterosexuals requires education, outreach, and exploration of strategies such as increasing the legal availability of sterile needles and syringes. Massive programs of public health education and voluntary, confidential risk-reduction counseling, and HIV antibody testing will continue to be the main weapons for reducing the spread of HIV infection among people engaged in high-risk behavior as well as among the general public. 11 charts.