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SIFs Stop HIV & Hepatitis C

The Story: More than a third of injection drug users say they would make use of medically supervised safer injecting facilities (SIFs) if such centers were available in Canada. SIFs do not provide drugs, but do give addicts clean injecting equipment, overdose treatment and access to health care and other services. SIFs now operate in 26 European cities and Australia and have been credited with improving health and reducing overdose deaths and the risk of HIV.

Expert Comment: "It seems clear from our study in the North American context that safe injection sites (SIFs) will reach precisely those people who need it most, namely those at highest risk of HIV and hepatitis C exposure." (Dr. Martin T. Schechter, University of British Columbia)

Our Comment: Why do the US and Canada not have such facilities? We believe that stopping the spread of HIV and hepatitis C should be a higher priority than moralizing about drug use.

For more, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:

• Hepatitis C (article)
• Hepatitis C Center
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and the HIV/AIDS Center
• Focus Topic on HIV/AIDS, edited by Eric Daar, M.D., active contributor and author of several Doctor's Views focused on current issues regarding AIDS/HIV. Dr. Darr is also the Director of the Division of HIV Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
• Focus On Liver Topics, edited by Tse-Ling Fong, M.D., Medical Director of the USC Liver Transplant Program.

Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Medical Editors, MedicineNet.com

Drug addicts would use injection facility: survey

Last Updated: 2003-02-25 16:21:31 -0400 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - More than a third of injection drug users say they would make use of medically supervised safer injecting facilities (SIFs) if such centers were available, according to a survey conducted in Canada.

"It seems clear from our study in the North American context that safe injection sites will reach precisely those people who need it most, namely those at highest risk of HIV and hepatitis C exposure," Dr. Martin T. Schechter of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, told Reuters Health.

Schechter and colleagues note that SIFs, which now operate in 26 European cities and in Australia, have been credited with improving health and reducing overdose deaths and the risk of HIV. Such facilities do not provide drugs, but do give addicts clean injecting equipment, overdose treatment and access to health care and other services.

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