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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2006, 08, 2 (pages: 23 - 35)

Knowledge and attitudes of drug treatment professionals towards HIV prevention and care activities in the Russian Federation

Dolzhanskaya1 N. A., Bouzina T. S., Kozlov A. A., Sarang A.

Summary: Illicit drug use and HIV has spread rapidly in Russia, with 75% of HIV cases attributed to heroin and opiate IDU. The integration of drug treatment and HIV services would ensure access to HIV prevention and treatment for IDUs, but so far this has not happened. A series of interviews and focus groups reveals the attitudes of drug treatment specialists to the risks run by their patients, together with those specialists' knowledge of the issues involved; these data make clear the opportunities that exist to integrate HIV services. We recommend better training in HIV issues such as principles of HIV counselling, harm reduction and substitution treatment. Measures to ensure access to HIV information and care within drug treatment settings and better research on these issues are an important priority.