BACKGROUND In 2003, a major epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus emerged among injection drug users in Taiwan. In response to the twin epidemics of HIV and intravenous drug addiction, the government implemented comprehensive harm reduction programs beginning in 2005. Collected data from relevant agencies were used to explore the impact of the harm reduction programs on HIV and illicit drug ...

BACKGROUND HIV continues to spread rapidly throughout Vietnam with injection drug use remaining the main risk factor for infection. The extent of pharmacy-based needle and syringe distribution has not previously been measured in Vietnam; this article reports on a pilot study exploring pharmacy-based harm reduction activities in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. METHODOLOGY Five pharmacies located in ...

Introduction: The dental syringe, since its introduction in 1921, has been very popular in operations performed under local anesthetics (LA). It can, however, be quite cumbersome to handle for people with petite hands. Therefore, the aim of this study is to introduce a technique of utilizing its sealed lignospan cartridges in a simpler way by using hypodermic syringe and needle to achieve effec...

Although various devices have been designed to enable the syringe to be held single handed2l 3 4 we have found the "braced thumb method" as described by Webbl56 to be satisfactory. The lump to be aspirated is steadied between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand while a 20 ml syringe with a No. 18 guage (green) needle is held in the right hand. The needle is introduced into the lesion whil...

The purpose of this study was to describe prior use of detoxification and addiction-treatment programs among injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan. From 2005-2006, IDUs (n = 464) recruited into this cross-sectional study completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and whole blood rapid testing with fingerstick samples for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C antibody and B surface...