Needle and Syringe Programmes: Issues in Policy and Practice (NSP1)

Date:	Thu 18 Mar
Duration:	1 days
Location:	Liverpool
Tutor:	Alan McGee > more about Alan McGee
Danos Units:	AA1, HSC233, HSC330, HSC3111, AB2, HSC335, AC3, GEN33, AG2, AG3, AH3

Availability:

Places available

Price

Early Bird (until 21/01/2010) £112.50

Standard (after 21/01/2010) £125.00

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In 1988 The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) argued that a reduction in the spread of HIV and other blood borne viruses was of greater importance to individual and public health than stopping drug use.

While contributing the low rates of HIV among injecting drug users, needle and syringe programmes have been less effective in responding to the problem of hepatitis C. This course will explore the evidence for needle and syringe programmes, consider models of needle and syringe programme delivery in the light of inadequate provision and coverage, and highlight issues of good practice in reducing drug, and particularly injecting related harm.

Participants will critically assess the needs of injecting drug users and identify and review both equipment and information given to a range of injecting drug users.

This course will be of particular interest to staff working in needle and syringe programmes including Tier 2 drug treatment staff, outreach and mobile needle and syringe programme workers and pharmacy staff.

Learning Objectives:

• To gain an understanding of the development of harm reduction and needle and syringe programmes
• To review the evidence on the impact of needle and syringe programmes in preventing HIV, hepatitis and bacterial infection
• To gain an understanding of the importance of needle and syringe programmes in an integrated drug treatment system, including safer injecting facilities, overdose prevention strategies and interventions and access to specialist treatment and a treatment journey
• To consider models of needle and syringe distribution and the appropriateness of injecting equipment and advice given to range of different injecting drug users