Library
On this page you can find relevant researchs on drug-related health topics, including HIV, hepatitis C, drug and overdose prevention, harm reduction and drug treatment. You can also find our Clinical Guidelines.
West Africa’s drug trade: reasons for concern and hope
An editorial in Addiction states that West Africa has recently emerged as a major focus for international drug policy, mainly in response to largescale cocaine seizures. The policy response has been concentrated on the criminal justice system, “However, limited data exist regarding the rates of local drug use in West Africa, and public health initiatives related to treatment have been sidelined.”
An editorial in Addiction states that West Africa has recently emerged as a major focus for international drug policy, mainly in response to largescale cocaine seizures. The policy response has been concentrated on the criminal justice system, “However, limited data exist regarding the rates of local drug use in West Africa, and public health initiatives related to treatment have been sidelined.”
Shooting Up: Infections among people who inject drugs in the UK 2012. An update: November 2013
Public Health England report on the changing face of injecting drug use in the UK. Including the people who inject, image and performance enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids and melanotan. They are at greater risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection than previously thought. To minimize the harm from injecting drug use, changes in the patterns of use that increase infection risk need to be detected and responded to promptly.
Public Health England report on the changing face of injecting drug use in the UK. Including the people who inject, image and performance enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids and melanotan. They are at greater risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection than previously thought. To minimize the harm from injecting drug use, changes in the patterns of use that increase infection risk need to be detected and responded to promptly.
When sex work and drug use overlap: Considerations for advocacy and practice
Harm Reduction International give a detailed report examines the overlap between people use drugs and sell sex. It provides a "snapshot of available evidence on the factors that contribute to their vulnerability and aims to draw attention to this often neglected area, and inform policy and programmatic discussions."
Harm Reduction International give a detailed report examines the overlap between people use drugs and sell sex. It provides a "snapshot of available evidence on the factors that contribute to their vulnerability and aims to draw attention to this often neglected area, and inform policy and programmatic discussions."
ACCESS CHALLENGES FOR HIV TREATMENT: Among People Living with HIV and Key Populations in Middle-Income Countries
Sarah Zaidi et. al policy briefing states access to treatment for a whole range of illnesses, infectious and non- communicable diseases, has made survival possible. “Wealthy countries with comprehensive health insurance coverage consider expensive medicines as an acceptable part of health care. But for the vast majority PLHIV and members of key populations including PUD, medicines are unaffordable and economic costs of illness are high for the individual, the family, community, and country. The challenge, for all countries including for Middle Income Countries, is securing treatment that is financially sustainable particularly in the case of HIV”
Sarah Zaidi et. al policy briefing states access to treatment for a whole range of illnesses, infectious and non- communicable diseases, has made survival possible. “Wealthy countries with comprehensive health insurance coverage consider expensive medicines as an acceptable part of health care. But for the vast majority PLHIV and members of key populations including PUD, medicines are unaffordable and economic costs of illness are high for the individual, the family, community, and country. The challenge, for all countries including for Middle Income Countries, is securing treatment that is financially sustainable particularly in the case of HIV”
Medication-Assisted Treatment With Methadone: Assessing the Evidence
Catherine Anne Fullerton et. al examined the effectiveness of Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to assist individuals with an opioid use disorder abstain from or decrease use of illegal or nonmedical opiates. They conclude “MMT is associated with improved outcomes for individuals and pregnant women with opioid use disorders. MMT should be a covered service available to all individuals”
Catherine Anne Fullerton et. al examined the effectiveness of Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to assist individuals with an opioid use disorder abstain from or decrease use of illegal or nonmedical opiates. They conclude “MMT is associated with improved outcomes for individuals and pregnant women with opioid use disorders. MMT should be a covered service available to all individuals”
IDPC: Response to the UNODC World Drug Report 2013
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) response to the UNODC Report 2013, highlighting that the report “represents an impressive and wide-ranging set of data, analysis and policy prescription, and provides an overview of recent trends and the current situation in terms of production, trafficking, and consumption, including the consequences of illicit drug use on health.”
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) response to the UNODC Report 2013, highlighting that the report “represents an impressive and wide-ranging set of data, analysis and policy prescription, and provides an overview of recent trends and the current situation in terms of production, trafficking, and consumption, including the consequences of illicit drug use on health.”
The Uncomfortable Truth - Hepatitis C in England: The State of the Nation
In this report the Hepatitis C Trust state that there must be no more excuses for the rising tide of deaths from hepatitis C, as it is a preventable and curable virus. The report "reveals plainly the link between hepatitis C and deprivation. Almost half of patients with hepatitis C who go to hospital are from the poorest fifth of society. It begs the question: has hepatitis C been overlooked for all these years, resulting in spiralling hospital admissions and deaths, because of the people it impacts?"
In this report the Hepatitis C Trust state that there must be no more excuses for the rising tide of deaths from hepatitis C, as it is a preventable and curable virus. The report "reveals plainly the link between hepatitis C and deprivation. Almost half of patients with hepatitis C who go to hospital are from the poorest fifth of society. It begs the question: has hepatitis C been overlooked for all these years, resulting in spiralling hospital admissions and deaths, because of the people it impacts?"
What would it take to eradicate health inequalities? Testing the fundamental causes theory of health inequalities in Scotland
NHS Scotland’s report concludes that the results have important policy implications for continued efforts to reduce health inequalities in Scotland. “Evidence that all‐cause socioeconomic inequalities in mortality persist despite reductions for some specific causes, and that inequalities are greater with increasing preventability, suggests that focussing on reducing individual risk and increasing individual assets will ultimately be fruitless in reducing inequalities and may even increase them. Elimination and prevention of inequalities in all‐cause mortality will only be achieved if the underlying differences in income, wealth and power across society are reduced.”
NHS Scotland’s report concludes that the results have important policy implications for continued efforts to reduce health inequalities in Scotland. “Evidence that all‐cause socioeconomic inequalities in mortality persist despite reductions for some specific causes, and that inequalities are greater with increasing preventability, suggests that focussing on reducing individual risk and increasing individual assets will ultimately be fruitless in reducing inequalities and may even increase them. Elimination and prevention of inequalities in all‐cause mortality will only be achieved if the underlying differences in income, wealth and power across society are reduced.”
The temporal relationship between drug supply indicators: an audit of international government surveillance systems
Report published in the BMJ conducted by D Werb et. al studied international drug surveillance databases to assess the relationship between multiple long-term estimates ofillegal drug price and purity. They conclude that “the findings suggest that expanding efforts at controlling the global illegal drug market through law enforcement are failing.”
Report published in the BMJ conducted by D Werb et. al studied international drug surveillance databases to assess the relationship between multiple long-term estimates ofillegal drug price and purity. They conclude that “the findings suggest that expanding efforts at controlling the global illegal drug market through law enforcement are failing.”
How the East Influenced Drug Prohibition
“In much of the academic literature drug prohibition is often described as an American, or at least a Western, construct.” This paper by James Windle shows how “prohibitions were enforced in Asian countries while the United States and Western Europe were routinely trading opium. The concept of prohibition being a distinctly American construct is, therefore, flawed.
“In much of the academic literature drug prohibition is often described as an American, or at least a Western, construct.” This paper by James Windle shows how “prohibitions were enforced in Asian countries while the United States and Western Europe were routinely trading opium. The concept of prohibition being a distinctly American construct is, therefore, flawed.
