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.
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.”
IDHDP September / October Newsletter 2013
This September / October issue highlights news, upcoming conferences, new publications, and more.
This September / October issue highlights news, upcoming conferences, new publications, and more.
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.
Abandoned in Agony: Cancer and the Struggle for Pain Treatment in Senegal
Humans Right Watch highlights the need for urgent action to address palliative care in Senegal. The majority of cancer patients live and die in unbearable pain, even though there are cheap and effective methods to alleviate their suffering. “Morphine, an essential medicine that is critical for adult and paediatric pain treatment, is unavailable outside of Dakar, the capital city. Even in Dakar, shortages are common. Overly stringent regulations on stocking and purchasing morphine make it difficult for hospitals to make it available to patients. Inflexible rules on morphine prescription make it virtually impossible for many Senegalese to get their medication.”
Humans Right Watch highlights the need for urgent action to address palliative care in Senegal. The majority of cancer patients live and die in unbearable pain, even though there are cheap and effective methods to alleviate their suffering. “Morphine, an essential medicine that is critical for adult and paediatric pain treatment, is unavailable outside of Dakar, the capital city. Even in Dakar, shortages are common. Overly stringent regulations on stocking and purchasing morphine make it difficult for hospitals to make it available to patients. Inflexible rules on morphine prescription make it virtually impossible for many Senegalese to get their medication.”
Harm reduction approach in Egypt: the insight of injecting drug users
Study by Dr Oraby (IDHDP member) describes the "current harm reduction interventions in Egypt and highlights the insights of active IDUs and service providers interacting with them as regards their ability to address their needs." She concludes that the "epidemiological reality of HIV infection in Egypt favors prioritizing efforts to the high risk groups rather than the general population. Hence, harm reduction should be at the core of interventions targeting HIV.'
Study by Dr Oraby (IDHDP member) describes the "current harm reduction interventions in Egypt and highlights the insights of active IDUs and service providers interacting with them as regards their ability to address their needs." She concludes that the "epidemiological reality of HIV infection in Egypt favors prioritizing efforts to the high risk groups rather than the general population. Hence, harm reduction should be at the core of interventions targeting HIV.'
IDPC October Alert
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) October alert includes their activities, publications and news.
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) October alert includes their activities, publications and news.
UNOCD Global Smart Update 2013
The UNODC Global Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends (SMART) Programme "enhances the capacity of Member States in priority regions to generate, manage, analyse, report and use synthetic drug information to design effective policy and programme interventions."
The UNODC Global Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends (SMART) Programme "enhances the capacity of Member States in priority regions to generate, manage, analyse, report and use synthetic drug information to design effective policy and programme interventions."
The temporal relationship between drug supply indicators: an audit of international government surveillance systems
International Centre for Science in Drug Policy report demonstrates that “during the past two decades, the supply of major illegal drugs has increased, as measured through a general decline in the price and a general increase in the purity of illegal drugs in a variety of settings.” concludes that "These findings suggest that expanding efforts at controlling the global illegal drug market through law enforcement are failing."
International Centre for Science in Drug Policy report demonstrates that “during the past two decades, the supply of major illegal drugs has increased, as measured through a general decline in the price and a general increase in the purity of illegal drugs in a variety of settings.” concludes that "These findings suggest that expanding efforts at controlling the global illegal drug market through law enforcement are failing."
Hepatitis C treatment access and uptake for people who inject drugs: a review mapping the role of social factors
Magdalena Harris et al. review the "social science and public health literature pertaining to HCV treatment for PWID, with a focus on barriers to treatment access, uptake and completion. A two step search was taken, with the first step pertaining to literature on HCV treatment for PWID and the second focusing on social structural factors." Evidence documents successful hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment outcomes for people who inject drugs (PWID) and interest in HCV treatment among this population yet HCV treatment among PWID remains suboptimal. This review seeks to map social factors mediating HCV treatment access. This paper concludes that combination intervention approaches need to encompass social interventions in relation to housing, stigma reduction and systemic changes in policy and health care delivery.
Magdalena Harris et al. review the "social science and public health literature pertaining to HCV treatment for PWID, with a focus on barriers to treatment access, uptake and completion. A two step search was taken, with the first step pertaining to literature on HCV treatment for PWID and the second focusing on social structural factors." Evidence documents successful hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment outcomes for people who inject drugs (PWID) and interest in HCV treatment among this population yet HCV treatment among PWID remains suboptimal. This review seeks to map social factors mediating HCV treatment access. This paper concludes that combination intervention approaches need to encompass social interventions in relation to housing, stigma reduction and systemic changes in policy and health care delivery.
