Injecting Advice
External Resources
Global State of Harm Reduction Reports
Posted in External Resources.
Harm Reduction International’s flagship publication is the biennial Global State of Harm Reduction report. First published in 2008, it involves a coordinated effort across practitioners, academics, advocates and activists to map global data and responses to HIV and hepatitis C epidemics related to unsafe injecting and non-injecting drug use.
Hepatitis C in the UK
Posted in External Resources.
Latest estimates suggest that in 2015 around 174,000 people (95% credible interval 161,000 to 188,000) in the UK were living with chronic HCV infection, and that this figure has fallen by around one third to 118,000 in 2019.
Drug consumption rooms: An overview of provision and evidence
Posted in External Resources.
Supervised drug consumption facilities, where illicit drugs can be used under the supervision of trained staff, have been operating in Europe for the last three decades.
Pregabalin Users Guide
Posted in External Resources.
Pregabalin is a medication used for seizures, anxiety and neuropathic pain. It is also known by a brand name Lrica® and various street names. In recent years it’s use has become prolific across Northern Ireland is also seen in other parts of the UK among heroin users and the prison population. It is involved in ever more fatal overdoses in these groups/region.
Safer Drug Consumption Facilities and Heroin Assisted Treatment (FAQs)
Posted in External Resources.
Safer drug consumption facilities (SDCFs) are clean, hygienic environments where people can consume drugs, obtained elsewhere, under the supervision of trained health professionals.
Alternatives to Public Injecting
Posted in External Resources, Uncategorized.
Harm Reduction Coalition invited experts from several countries to share their various SIF models, planning and policy development process, implementation challenges, and evaluation results. This report is a summary of the proceedings of the consultation.
Community Management of Opioid Overdose
Posted in External Resources.
These guidelines produced by the World Health Organisation aim to reduce the number of deaths from opioid overdose by providing evidence-based recommendations on the availability of naloxone for people likely to witness an opioid overdose along with advice on the resuscitation and post-resuscitation care of opioid overdose in the community.
Safer Injecting Basics for New Psychoactive Substances
Posted in External Resources.
Scottish Drugs Forum in conjunction with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Frontier Medical have created a new advice booklet for people injecting New Psychoative Substances (NPS). The guide is intended to inform people of the risks associated with injecting NPS, drugs commonly called legal highs, or any unidentified white powders.
Examining the injecting practices of injecting drug users in Scotland
Posted in External Resources.
The aim of the study was to examine the injecting practices of Scottish injecting drug users to a degree of detail not previously achieved in the UK. The specific focus was practices that could potentially facilitate the transmission of HCV infection. Risk practices other than the direct sharing of needles and syringes were of special interest as these are not so well understood.
NICE: Needle and Syringe Programmes
Posted in External Resources.
This guidance makes recommendations on needle and syringe programmes, including those provided by pharmacies and drugs services for adults and young people (including those under 16) who inject drugs, including image- and performance-enhancing drugs.
Useful Websites
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National Needle Exchange Forum
The National Needle Exchange Forum (NNEF) exists to actively promote and support the provision of high quality needle and syringe programmes, therefore ensuring the reduction of injecting-related harm as a key part of the English drugs strategy. The NNEF members are needle and syringe programme staff, users and advocates from across England. -
Naloxone.org.uk
This website aims to be a hub for information, guidance, news and research on Take Home Naloxone (THN). The main focus is on THN in the UK, although they have included select pieces of information on the supply of naloxone internationally. -
HIT
HIT delivers effective interventions on drugs, community safety and other public health concerns. They produce publications, run mass media campaigns, deliver training, organise conferences and provide consultancy to individuals, community groups, health and social care and criminal justice agencies locally, nationally and at an international level.