Harm Reduction International présente au Segment Thématique de la Jeunesse

Dans leur intervention, Harm Reduction International a pointé du doigt le problème alarmant de l’usage des drogues injectables parmi les adolescents.

Pour en savoir plus, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous (en anglais).

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By Damon Barrett

Injecting drug use among adolescents has been largely overlooked in responses to HIV. At Harm Reduction International we have undertaken the first global snapshot of available data on this issue – copies are available outside (And online at http://www.ihra.net/contents/1431 )

National population size estimates are exceptionally rare for this age group. Under 18s are often not included behavioural surveillance. Specific research is quite rare. A lot of what is available is isolated, one off or old. In other words most countries don’t know their epidemic

This should not prevent action:

• Early onset of injecting, and having recently begun injecting, have been associated with increased risks of HIV and hepatitis C transmission.
• Low ages of initiation are clear across regions. In Nepal, for example,it is estimated that 20% of people who inject may be under 18.

A third of young people who inject reported starting under the age of 15 in Albania – a quarter in Romania. In Indonesia adolescents are almost twice as likely to share needles than older counterparts. They are less likely to test for HIV

In Ukraine it has been estimated that there are just over 50,000 adolescents injecting drugs. According to data from harm reduction services, about 800 were reached last year.

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