Injecting Drug Users (IDUs)
Injecting Drug Users (IDUs)
 | The inter-regional workshop ‘Young people, HIV/ AIDS, Drug and Substance Use in Asia’ organized jointly by the UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) and the Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), in collaboration with UNDCP Regional office for South Asia, took place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 18 – 22 March 2002. It brought together a total of fifty-eight participants from the various government ministries, the NGO sector as well as UNICEF staff from eleven countries in South and South East Asia. Download this publication |
| In the nineteenth century opium was a commodity of economic importance and a monopoly and source of revenue which the Cambodian monarch was keen to maintain. Generally Khmer society did not much favour opium and its use was confined to the Chinese business community and foreigners: accounts of opium dens and the ritual use of opium in Phnom Penh at this time exist. Download this publication |
| HIV/AIDS has emerged as a prominent health and social concern in Nepal. The recent upsurge of HIV prevalence among IDUs is alarming. Networking and injecting behaviors of IDUs in the Katmandu valley are already identified as very risky but their sexual behavior remains largely unexplored. The study was carried out to obtain detailed and in-depth information about sexual behavior male IDUs in Kathmandu Valley. Download this publication |
| This report was commissioned by the Aus- tralian National Council on Drugs and summarises the available literature on the structural determinants of youth drug use. The breadth of information that could potentially be incorporated in this report is enormous, including literature from the fields of health (public health, child and adolescent development, mental health), economics, crime prevention, social policy and town planning. Download this publication |
| Injecting drug use is one of the major factors in the increasing spread of HIV today in the Asian region, as well as the Middle East, South America, and in the CIS. There are many gaps in available information needed to guide a comprehensive response to the needs of IDUs, in general, and to the growing HIV epidemic among IDUs in particular. Download this publication |
| During the preparatory visit in December 2000 two regional specific key persons (RSKPs) were identified in Hetauda and Damak to coordinate with the 6 of the 8 locality specific key persons (LSKPs) in the eastern part of Nepal. The methodology undertaken was to conduct two group meetings; one with current injecting drug users and one key stakeholder organizations (government and non governmental sector). With the exception of Kakarbhitta (only IDU group) and Pokhara (extra female IDU group) all groups were convened on time. Representation in each of the groups ranged from 10 to 20 individuals and lasted approximately 2 to 3 hours. The majority of drug use and injecting drug use estimations were derived by nomination techniques and differences were noted according to the key stakeholders and drug user group discussions. Download this publication |
| In many of the study-countries minor modifications to the drug control legisla- tion are necessary in order to implement more effective HIV/AIDS prevention among drug users. High-risk behaviours are commonplace among drug users in all the study- countries and there is an observable trend of multiple drug use. In general, drug policies in the study-countries are not supportive of effective HIV prevention among drug users. With the exception of law enforcement, drug problems are not generally accorded high funding priority. Download this publication |
| Nepal UNAIDS-APICT - Research on the Relationship between Drug Use, Drug Policy & HIV/AIDS Vulnerability Download this publication |
| A baseline study of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Lahore, undertaken in January and February, 1999, by UNDCP and UNAIDS, revealed an alarmingly high rate of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) among the study population. The study results suggest the potential for an even greater public health challenge in the form of an epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) once the virus enters this highly vulnerable population. In addition, there is the possibility of a more generalised HIV epidemic as a result of secondary transmission through sexual activity. The study results will have important implications for the formulation of Pakistan's strategies regarding drug abuse, especially among IDUs, and for the development of appropriate and effective plans for programmes of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Download this publication |
