scholarly journals ‘This is what is going to help me’: Developing a co-designed and theoretically informed harm reduction intervention for mobile youth in South Africa and Uganda

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Sarah Bernays ◽  
Chloe Lanyon ◽  
Edward Tumwesige ◽  
Allen Aswiime ◽  
Nothando Ngwenya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention

scholarly journals PrEP in Prisons: HIV prevention in incarcerated populations

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-206
Author(s):  
Jordan Parsons ◽  
Chelsea Cox
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibility of using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV harm reduction intervention in prisons. PrEP is primarily discussed in relation to men who have sex with men (MSM), meaning other high-risk populations, such as prisoners, are often side-lined. The authors wanted to consider how it could prove beneficial beyond the MSM community. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors discuss whether the common objections to existing HIV harm reduction interventions in prisons, such as needle exchanges, are applicable to PrEP. The authors then apply common objections to the provision of PrEP in the general population to the provision of PrEP in a prison context in order to assess their strength. Finally, the authors discuss what the authors anticipate to be a key objection to PrEP in prisons: post-incarceration access. Findings The authors argue that both sets of common objections considered are easily refuted in the case of PrEP in prisons. The unique setting and nature of the intervention are such that it is without immediately apparent flaws. In addressing post-incarceration access, the authors suggest that a longitudinal consideration of a prisoner’s HIV risk undermines the objection. Originality/value This discussion is of importance due to the significantly heightened risk of HIV infection prisoners are subject to. Not only do effective HIV prevention interventions in prisons contribute to fair access to health for incarcerated individuals, but also to the wider fight against HIV. The authors demonstrate that PrEP has potential as a new approach and call for further research in this area.

scholarly journals Aproximacions a la perspectiva de la persona en tractament de manteniment amb metadona: Reflexions a propòsit de 10 anys de recerca / Approaches to the perspective of the individual receiving methadone maintenance treatment: Reflections on 10 years of research

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Joan Trujols Albet ◽  
Joan Guàrdia-Olmos ◽  
Ioseba Iraugui ◽  
José Pérez de los Cobos
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Methadone Maintenance Treatment ◽  
Maintenance Treatment ◽  
Methadone Maintenance ◽  
Heroin Dependence ◽  
Psychopharmacological Treatment ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
The Individual

 Resum. Els tractaments de manteniment amb metadona (TMM) són un autèntic tractament psicofarmacològic de la dependència d’heroïna i, a la vegada, un element indispensable de les polítiques i les intervencions de reducció de danys. L’efectivitat dels TMM ha estat avaluada, gairebé de manera exclusiva, mitjançant la utilització d’indicadors anomenats durs. Intentant anar més enllà d’aquest enfocament tradicional, hem portat a terme, durant els darrers 10 anys, diversos estudis emprírics i assaigs teòrics que s’emmarquen dins d’un objectiu global de generar coneixement al voltant de  –i amb– la perspectiva de la persona en TMM. En aquest article, resumim de manera selectiva les troballes més rellevants d’aquesta línia de recerca per discutir després algunes de les seves principals implicacions. Finalment, abordem alguns dels reptes  –i suggerim alguns dels canvis necessaris– per a una avaluació dels TMM realment centrada en el pacient.Summary. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is both a specific psychopharmacological treatment of heroin dependence and a core harm-reduction intervention. Over the last 10 years we have been working to break the mould of the traditional focus on the so-called hard indicators of MMT effectiveness, pursuing instead a line of research that makes room for the consideration of the perspectives of methadone-maintained patients, resulting in several empirical and theoretical papers. Firstly, this commentary briefly and selectively summarizes some key findings from five of these papers. It then discusses the main implications of these findings. Finally, it addresses some of the challenges involved in conducting a genuinely patient-centred evaluation of MMT, along with some of the changes that would be required to accomplish this.

scholarly journals Empathic response and no need for perfection: reflections on harm reduction engagement in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Versfeld ◽  
Andrew Scheibe ◽  
Shaun Shelly ◽  
Janine Wildschut
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Empathic Response

Cannabis use as harm reduction in the Eastern Caribbean

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-177
Author(s):  
Marcus Day
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Crack Cocaine ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reduction Strategy ◽  
Harm Reduction Strategy ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Negative Context ◽  
Therapeutic Value

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present evidence of the therapeutic value of cannabis as a harm reduction intervention with people who smoke crack cocaine. Design/methodology/approach A desk study of published peer-reviewed material supporting the use of cannabis as therapeutic in mitigating some of the harms associated with crack cocaine smoking. Findings The use of cannabis as a harm reduction strategy for crack cocaine use has been commented on in the scientific literature since the 1980s. The officially scheduling of cannabis as having no medicinal value hampered further study despite the reporting of positive findings and numerous calls for more research. Practical implications There are currently no approved pharmaceutical substitutions for crack cocaine. Cannabis has shown itself effective in mitigating harms for 30–40 per cent of people. Cannabis is inexpensive and readily available and should be allowed for those people who want to use it. Originality/value Poly drug use is often framed in a negative context. In this paper, the author shows that with cannabis and crack, the poly drug use is actually a valid harm reduction strategy.

scholarly journals What About Drug Checking? Systematic Review and Netnographic Analysis of Social Media

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 906-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Guirguis ◽  
Isma Moosa ◽  
Rosalind Gittins ◽  
Fabrizio Schifano
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Criminal Records ◽  
Social Burden ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Harm Reduction Intervention ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Drug checking services have been operating worldwide as a harm reduction tool in places like festivals and night clubs. A systematic review and netnographic analysis were conducted to explore the public’s perception of drug checking. Although public perceptions of drug checking had not previously been evaluated in the literature, some positive and negative perceptions were captured. From twitter, a total of 1316 tweets were initially identified. Following the removal of irrelevant tweets, 235 relevant tweets were identified, of which about 95% (n = 223) tweets were in favour, and about 5% (n = 12) were not in favour of drug checking as a harm reduction intervention. Tweets perceived the service as part of effective law reform, public health intervention that serves in raising awareness and countering the role of the internet, initiative to reduce drug related harms and/ or potentially deaths, help in identifying Novel drug trends related to drugs, enabling a scientific basis to capture data, reducing harm from risky drugs or risky consumption, reducing the economic and social burden on society and preventing young people from having criminal records and punitive fines. Drug checking was perceived to support engagement with treatment services and support individuals in making more informed decisions. Tweets against drug checking focussed on the concerns over the quality of drug checking, particularly with false-positive results, which may lead to punitive outcomes, discrimination, and prejudice. The present study showed that twitter can be a useful platform to capture people’s perceptions of drug checking.

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