The role of syringe filters in harm reduction among injection drug users.

Cannabis use correlates of syringe sharing among injection drug users.

This study examines whether the relation between acute cannabis use and syringe sharing during single injection days is similar among regular and nonregular users, participating in a cohort study of injection drug users in Montréal, Canada. 236 (36.6%) subjects were classified as regular cannabis users (RCUs), 227 (35.2%) as nonregular cannabis users (NRCUs), and 181 (28.1%) were abstinent. Can...

Cost-effectiveness of harm reduction in preventing hepatitis C among injection drug users.

OBJECTIVES Hepatitis C (HCV) has emerged as a major epidemic among injection drug users (IDUs), with observed prevalence exceeding 70% in many American and European cities. This article explores the potential of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) to reduce HCV incidence and prevalence. DESIGN A random-mixing epidemiological model is used to examine the potential impact of harm reduction interve...

Harm reduction among injecting drug users — evidence of effectiveness

This chapter synthesises and evaluates the available direct evidence relating to the impact of needle and syringe programmes (NSPs), opioid substitution treatment (OST), drug consumption rooms (DCRs), and peer naloxone distribution (PND) on HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) incidence/prevalence, injecting risk behaviour and overdose-related mortality. To achieve this, we conducted a review of reviews; a sy...

the necessity of enhanced harm reduction programs to prevent blood-borne infections amongst injection drug users

Syringe access for the prevention of blood borne infections among injection drug users

BACKGROUND Approximately one-third of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases in the United States are associated with the practice of sharing of injection equipment and are preventable through the once-only use of syringes, needles and other injection equipment. DISCUSSION Sterile syringes may be obtained legally by 4 methods depending on the state. They may be purchased over the counter, p...