The International journal on drug policy
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Int. J. Drug Policy · Sep 2012
"I'm not afraid of those ones just 'cause they've been prescribed": perceptions of risk among illicit users of pharmaceutical opioids.
There has been a rise in the illicit use of pharmaceutical opioids ("pain pills") in the United States. Conducted with young adult non-medical users of pharmaceutical opioids, this study uses qualitative methods and cultural consensus analysis to describe risk perceptions associated with pharmaceutical opioids and to determine patterns of cultural sharing and intra-cultural variation of these views. ⋯ This study highlights potential problems with universal approaches to substance use prevention and intervention among young people since such approaches ignore the fact that substance use education messages may be experienced differently depending on an individual's drug use history and his/her perceptions of drug risks. Findings reported here may be useful in the development of prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing the harm associated with illicit use of pain pills.
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Injecting drug use has been documented in 158 countries and is a major contributor to HIV epidemics. People who inject drugs have poor and inequitable access to HIV services. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the leading multilateral donor for HIV programmes and encourages applicants to include harm reduction interventions in their proposals. This study is the first detailed analysis of Global Fund investments in harm reduction interventions. ⋯ This study represents the most comprehensive assessment of Global Fund investments in harm reduction. This funding, while substantial, falls short of the estimated needs. Investments in harm reduction must increase if HIV transmission among people who inject drugs is to be halved by 2015.
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Int. J. Drug Policy · Jul 2012
Transition to injection amongst opioid users in Iran: implications for harm reduction.
Driven by opioid use, HIV prevalence is high (15-27%) amongst injection drug users (IDU) in Iran. Harm reduction programmes are associated with a reduction in high risk injecting behaviours; however, Iran has a large number of non-injecting opioid users not immediately targeted by harm reduction programmes. ⋯ In this study, we have reviewed evidence on the HIV epidemic, extent and pattern of opioid use, and correlates of the transition to injection in Iran. We have concluded that harm reduction policies should also emphasize prevention of the transition to injection amongst high-risk non-injecting opioid users as an additional strategy against the spread of HIV infection in Iran.