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.
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.
HIV prevention among people who use drugs in East Africa
IDPC briefing paper analyses the barriers and opportunities for harm reduction, and provides recommendations to improve access to services in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.
IDPC briefing paper analyses the barriers and opportunities for harm reduction, and provides recommendations to improve access to services in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.
Licensing and Regulation of the Cannabis Market in England and Wales: Towards a Cost/Benefit Analysis
The Beckley Foundation state in the report that drug policy reform would provide the "UK government with the funds to address negative impacts while leaving considerable money to spend on prevention. Furthermore, it would give police more resources to go after violent criminals, rather than being preoccupied by ineffective—and even discriminatory—policing practices."
The Beckley Foundation state in the report that drug policy reform would provide the "UK government with the funds to address negative impacts while leaving considerable money to spend on prevention. Furthermore, it would give police more resources to go after violent criminals, rather than being preoccupied by ineffective—and even discriminatory—policing practices."
The End of Marijuana Prohibition?
Editorial by Andy Ko from Open Society Foundation reviews the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Editorial by Andy Ko from Open Society Foundation reviews the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Drugs: regulation & harm
Professor David Nutt talks about the politics and idiosyncrasies of UK drug regulation and describes a more logical alternative.
Professor David Nutt talks about the politics and idiosyncrasies of UK drug regulation and describes a more logical alternative.
