While it is difficult to ascertain when the cultivation of poppies or the misuse of opium in Austria first began, the historical use of opium as a medicine for adults and babies is well documented. Poppy seeds can be bought without restriction and their cultivation as an alternative crop is a government- subsidized industry. In post-war Austria, the number of drug users has steadily increased. Cannabis is the most frequently abused drug, followed by opiates; cocaine use is very rare in Austria. Among the country's 66 licensed services for drug addicts, 9 provide short- and medium-term inpatient treatment, while 5 offer long-term treatment and rehabilitation. In 1987, methadone was legalized for therapeutic use in drug addiction treatment. Since 1985, the incidence of HIV infection among drug addicts has been monitored; by 1989, 29.7 of intravenous drug users in Vienna were HIV-positive, while the figures from the Tyrol and Switzerland were much higher. 20 references