February 25, 2008
This report focuses on the first of these three interventions—medicationassisted maintenance treatment for drug dependence—an area in which the United States has considerable experience and strength and that offers an opportunity to expand engagement in global HIV efforts. U.S. efforts should be coordinated with those of recipient governments and other donors in an integrated, comprehensive approach that ultimately will be the most effective strategy to curb the rapid growth of injection-driven HIV epidemics. This paper first reviews why medication assisted maintenance treatment is an essential HIV prevention intervention. Second, it details the medical nature of opioid addiction, the medications best suited for treatment, and their efficacy in HIV prevention. It then assesses the availability of treatment in 12 developing countries: 10 with IDU-driven HIV epidemics, and 2 with emerging IDU-driven epidemics. Finally, it offers recommendations for U.S. policymakers to more fully integrate drug treatment services and HIV prevention efforts into the next phase of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Posted by Gary Holden at February 25, 2008 11:09 AM