[Introduction] [Agenda] [Abstracts] [Recommendations] [Biographical Sketches] [Participants]

Recommendations

Areas Recommended for Future Emphasis

Research: Consensus was reached that NIDA/NIH and/or world organizations such as the PAHO/WHO should support research on drug abuse and co-occurring infections including HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases. Suggested areas of research were: (i) epidemiology, basic, clinical, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and health care access, with emphasis on high risk sub-populations including IVDUs, men who have sex with men, women, children, adolescents and youth; (ii) behavioral (attitudinal and motivational) research applicable to different cultures; (iii) development of instruments to evaluate HIV and HCV prevention knowledge and service needs of drug users and that are applicable to various Latin and North American countries; (iv) development of strategies and infrastructure to further encourage collaborations in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean Islands; and (v) establish special funding programs dedicated for less developed Latin and Caribbean countries to improve the capacity to provide health care.

Protocol development: Support the development of standard research protocols that could be used in different cultures, countries, regions and communities to foster the utilization of clinical and applied research findings applicable to a wide variety of infected drug users.

Intervention (prevention/treatment): Develop actions, strategies and infrastructure to promote development, continuity and impact of interventions (prevention, treatment), and risk reduction programs for drug abusers with co-occurring infections.

Publication/Dissemination: Disseminate research findings and best practices via publications, conferences and workshops to professionals engaged in providing health care at the clinic and community levels in Latin America and the Caribbean Islands.

Training: Develop programs of training investigators and other professionals in the areas of epidemiology, intervention, diagnosis, management of infections, and health care access specific to minorities in Latin America and the Caribbean Islands; develop bilingual training manuals for professionals engaged in providing health care access to drug users with infections; provide travel awards/scholarships to young investigators to attend international meetings on AIDS and Drug Abuse.

Policy: Based on sound research, formulate/design policies that would promote sound health care practices applicable to drug users with co-occurring infections in Latin America and the Caribbean Islands.