Document 0183
 DOCN  M9590183
 TI    Research and intervention amongst injecting drug users in the hills of
       northern Thailand.
 DT    9509
 AU    Gray J; National Centre for HIV Social Research, Macquarie University,;
       Sydney.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:96 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291916
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To establish needle exchange programs and research injecting
       drug behaviours amongst the Akha Hilltribe. METHODOLOGY: A survey was
       carried out amongst the habitual drug users in three Akha villages in
       the far north of Thailand to ascertain the extent of drug use, the types
       of drugs used, and the context within which using took place, including
       changes in drug use over time. In-depth interviews with users, their
       families and fellow villages were used in place of questionnaires. The
       qualitative data then provided the basis for establishing needle
       exchanges, modelled after those used in Australia. SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
       Drug use in these areas has changed dramatically within the last two to
       three years with villagers in increasing numbers switching from smoking
       opium to injecting heroin. This switch is beginning to have enormous
       effects on the social and economic stability of village households.
       Shared needle use was almost universal prior to the introduction of the
       needle exchanges, a pattern that has almost reversed with the
       distribution of unused, free needles. CONCLUSION: Needle exchanges are
       an essential means of limiting the transmission of HIV/AIDS in villages
       where injecting drug use is occurring. Ethnographic research was an
       important tool to the establishment of the exchanges and encouraged each
       user to develop a personal responsibility for his/her behaviour. It was
       also an important tool for incorporating the rest of the community into
       this harm minimisation program.
 DE    *Developing Countries  Human  HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  *Needle-Exchange Programs  Population Surveillance
       Research  Risk-Taking  *Rural Population/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       Substance Abuse, Intravenous/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*REHABILITATION
       Thailand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).