DRID Workshop 8 -Non-IDUs, other groups (steroid users, MSM who use drugs)
Sex and image related drug use and infections
Vivian Hope
Background.
EMCDDA Drug Related Infectious Diseases(DRID) key indicator (KI) has so far focused its data collection on blood-borne viral infections –specifically HIV, hepatitis B and C - among people who injecting psychoactive drugs. This focus reflects long standing concernsabout the transmission of these infections through injecting drug use and the resulting burden of disease.
Psychoactive drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, are not the only type of illicit substances that can be injected. Drugs to alter image and performance, such as anabolic steroids, melanotan, and growth hormone, can also be injected. People who use and inject these drugs are also at risk of infections.
To varying extents HIV, hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted through sexual activity.Drug use (both non-injecting and injecting) before or during sex is not uncommon, and such drug use may increasethe sexual risks that can lead to the transmission of blood-borne viralinfections and bacterial STIs.
Issue.
DRID KI current focus on blood-borne viral infections among people who inject psychoactive drugs does not capture the full extent infection transmission related to drug use. Neither does it fully elucidate the foci of risk. For example, DRID does not necessarily capture, or identify data on:
-Infections associated with risk among people who inject/use image and performance enhancing drugs.
-Infections associated to increased sexual transmissionfrom psychoactive drug use (injecting and non-injecting) before or during sex among heterosexuals, MSM, sex workers, etc..
Aims of the workshop
To explore:
-whichsub-groups/groupsof people who use/inject drugs – beyond the broad category of “people who inject psychoactive drugs” - should be considered in relation DRID data/information collection.
-for these groups whether either routine on-going monitoring at an EU level or periodic focused data/information collection (every two or three years) would be useful.
-what form any such data collection might take.
What do we expect from participants?
-To think and discuss this issue with colleagues in their country.
-To establish what is already known about these issues in their country.
-Participate in the discussion providing national experiences.
-One participant to do the reporting (one or two A4 pages in Word).