Category Archives: Drug use behaviours/harm reduction
HIV and drug related stigma and risk-taking behaviors among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The impact of HIV-related stigma on people living with HIV has been well documented, but there have been few studies examining how drug-related stigma impacts risk-taking in the lives of...
School-based interventions to promote adolescent health: A systematic review in low- and middle-income countries of WHO Western Pacific Region
BACKGROUND: In the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO WPRO), most adolescents enroll in secondary school. Safe, healthy and nurturing school environments are critical for adolescent health and development....
A systematic review and meta-analysis of combination behavioral interventions co-targeting psychosocial syndemics and HIV-related health behaviors for sexual minority men
In the U.S., sexual minority men (SMM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Interventions are needed to increase HIV prevention and treatment behaviors, especially among syndemically exposed SMM. In recent years,...
Possible benefits of providing safe supply of substances to people who use drugs during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic
Key take-home messages Safe supply is an approach that focuses on saving lives by prescribing pharmaceutical grade substances such as opioids and stimulants to individuals at risk of overdose and...
Burnout among service providers addressing substance use disorders
Key take-home messages Main burnout components experienced among service providers addressing substance use disorders include emotional exhaustion (feeling drained of all available emotional capacity), depersonalization (experiencing cynicism, helplessness and detachment),...
Multi-level experiences and determinants of alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A thematic synthesis of qualitative findings
Occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at increased risk of substance use because of occupation-related factors. We synthesised qualitative data on determinants and context...
What do HIV-positive drug users’ experience tell us about their antiretroviral medications taking? An international integrated literature review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: HIV-positive drug users’ poor adherence to antiretroviral regimens can pose a significant and negative impact on individual and global health. This review aims to identify knowledge gaps...
Comparing injecting and sexual risk behaviors of long-term injectors with new injectors: A meta-analysis
The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of injection duration on injection and sexual high-risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID), in order to inform development of intensive...
Is co-location of services with HIV care associated with improved HIV care outcomes? A systematic review
This systematic review identifies models of service co-location, a structural intervention strategy to remove barriers to HIV care and services, and examines their associations with HIV care outcomes. A cumulative...
Substance use screening in HIV care settings: A review and critique of the literature
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: People living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS (PLWHA) experience high prevalence of substance use disorders (SUD). HIV care settings represent a unique opportunity to identify possible SUD, to...
Elimination of HIV transmission through novel and established prevention strategies among people who inject drugs
Despite the effectiveness of existing HIV prevention strategies for people who inject drugs (PWID), uncontrolled outbreaks of HIV among this group are common and occur around the world. In this...