HIV

As HIV transmission via injection drugs are increasing, knowing the variation in which the the transmission occurs can be beneficial in treatment and intervention. Authors of the study look into the frequency and distribution of HIV transmission behaviors among people who use drugs in rural areas to possibly determine if interventions could be universally effective. Data collected in the study suggests that there are many variations in the transmission behaviors.

The study explored opportunities for enhanced screening using telehealth and electronic patient-reported outcomes at five HRSA-funded Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinics in Alabama – one of seven mostly rural states prioritized for the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. While there were concerns among survey respondents around lack of in-person interaction, the study revealed opportunities to expand technology use in rural areas.

The goal of the training was to develop knowledge and skills to discuss infectious disease/sexual health concerns and provide health promotion support in OUD settings.

Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening inflammation of the heart’s chambers and valves that can be difficult and expensive to treat. Like hepatitis and HIV, infective endocarditis can be caused by using needles that are not sterile. This infographic highlights basic information about infective endocarditis alongside an anatomical image of a human heart.

The workshop presented strategies to integrate HIV, hepatitis, and sexual health concerns into services for PWID. The session will focus on communication skills, assessment techniques, and building motivation among PWID to make healthier choices. Mr. Sacco looked at programmatic and clinical-level integration strategies and offered participants an opportunity to assess current service delivery models and develop a plan to enhance care. Mrs. Bell and Ms. Chavis intrdoduce participants to resources and funding opportunities available through HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB).

The UNODC Regional Program Office for Eastern Europe (Kiev, Ukraine), in collaboration with the Humanitarian Action Fund (St. Petersburg, Russia), issues recommendations on web outreach for people who use drugs (PWUD), including people who use new psychoactive substances (NPS). Web outreach is a method of establishing contact, counseling, involving and retaining PWUD in harm reduction programs through websites, social networks, instant messengers, specialized forums, including Darknet platforms.

Background: Injecting drug users (IDUs) are at increased risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV and other bloodborne pathogens through the multi-person use of syringes. Although research has shown that increased access to syringes through syringe exchange programs (SEPs) is an effective strategy to reduce risky injection practices many areas of the United States still do not have SEPs. In the absence of SEPs, legislation allowing pharmacies over-the-counter sales of syringes has also been shown to reduce syringe sharing. The success of pharmacy sales however is limited by other legal stipulations, such as drug paraphernalia laws, which in turn may contribute to fear among IDUs about being caught purchasing and carrying syringes.

This workshop presented strategies to integrate HIV, hepatitis, and sexual health concerns into services for PWID. The session focused on communication skills, assessment techniques, and building motivation to make healthier choices. The presentation looked at programmatic and clinical level integration strategies and offered participants a chance to assess current service delivery models and develop a plan to enhance care.

West Virginia leads the nation in overdose death rate and both counties where participants were interviewed for this study were considered to be at risk for an HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs. This study asked the question ‘What on-the-ground environmental factors among PWIH could be contributing to this overdose rate?