Lancet paper on IDU

The Lancet published a paper that researched shortfalls in HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for injecting drug users (IDUs) worldwide. The findings revealed that international “coverage of HIV prevention, treatment, and care services in IDU populations is very low” and are nowhere near the levels required to meet the needs of the population.

Read a summary of the report at:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960232-2/fulltext

See a map summary of the Eurasia region at:
http://www.ihra.net/Assets/581/1/GSHREurasia.pdf

Harm Reduction Overview

Neil Hunt (the creator of the Break the Cycle intervention in the UK) has put together a superb overview document outlining the main components of harm reduction.

The authors describe the document as follows:

This overview addresses both understandings of harm reduction and summarises its key principles before going on to consider the strength and nature of the evidence of the effectiveness of various forms of ‘harm reduction’ intervention. In doing so, some consideration is also given to criticisms of harm reduction that are occasionally encountered.

The document is called:

A review of the evidence-base for harm reduction approaches to drug use

It may be downloaded at:
http://www.ihra.net/Assets/23/1/HIVTop50Documents11.pdf

Cheers
Rob

Substitution therapy in C. Asia

Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) is one of the most important components of a comprehensive harm reduction program. A new report out (see link below) outlines the state of OST in Central Asia, where PSI is one of the main development partners working with IDUs.

Rob

http://www.harm-reduction.org/images/stories/library/ost_final_2010.pdf?utm_source=IDPC+Monthly+Alert&utm_campaign=1761d6a25b-IDPC_March_Alert3_24_2010&utm_medium=email

$19

The Australian government has calculated the cost benefit of their harm reduction program. The study found an average "savings per syringe distributed" of $19. In other words, each needle going out saved the Australian tax payers $19 in other costs, had the intervention not existed (i.e. AIDS treatment, etc.)

You can download a brief summary at:

http://www.anex.org.au/downloads/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20NSP%20Return%20On%20Investment.pdf

This report might be useful in your advocacy work to convince partners that providing prevention services for drug users is a worthwhile endeavor with measurable results (including savings for tax payers).

Rob