Drug Use and HIV Vulnerability: Policy Research Study in Asia. Task Force on Drug Use and HIV Vulnerability

摘要

In many of the study-countries minor modifications to the drug control legislation 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. There is inadequate dialogue between drug control and HIV/AIDS control agencies in the seven study-countries. Consequently there are few programmes in the region, which directly address problems presented by the interface between drug use and HIV/AIDS. Measures to prevent the spread of HIV among drug users and their sexual partners are often localised, short-term, under-funded and insufficient in scope. Adherence to traditional values is strong in many of the study-countries making debate on HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual behaviour sensitive. Drug treatment almost invariably focuses on detoxification treatment. Drug users are afforded little choice of treatment, which is mostly compulsory, residential and long-term.