Hermann W; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: 169 (abstract no. PuC 8100).
Self help network of drug users JES, Berlin, Germany.
ISSUE: To bypass restrictive methadone substitution and introduce a second oral Heroin substitution treatment to IVDUs which is no concern of narcotic law and which as liquid solution is four times cheaper than industrial Codeine products. In regard to HIV/AIDS prevention does the oral liquid Codeine treatment qualify as Methadone does. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The decade long blocking of substitution treatments for Heroin addicts in West Germany still lingers on and demand for Methadone treatments is met restrictive by health authorities. The HIV preventive effect of substitution is neglected. The shortage while high demand opened the eyes for the hardly known alternative resp. fiercely rejected codeine treatment which in general is not paid for by the insurance. JES provided and published roughly one year the information on the treatment, trained activists to introduce the treatment to medical doctors and to handle their doubts and reservations. By this smaller network of information and support consisting of addict-activists, practitioners and pharmacists in a number of cities the liquid Codeine treatment has been introduced and several hundred maintainance-treatments are successful. The introduction in further cities is continuing. RESULT: HIV prevention, de-criminalization of addicts, harm reduction and survival. LESSONS LEARNED: Addicts capacities to self help, the practice of the alternative liquid Codeine substitution which can be offered to addicts unconcerned by narcotic law and affordable. Elsewhere in Europe?
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Codeine
- Europe
- Germany, West
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Behavior
- Heroin
- Mental Disorders
- Methadone
- dihydrocodeine
- methods
Other ID:
UI: 102201492
From Meeting Abstracts