Link to the University of Pittsburgh Homepage
Link to the University Library System Homepage Link to the Contact Us Form

A critical review of the effectiveness of safe injection facilities as a harm reduction strategy

Lingle, Carrie (2013) A critical review of the effectiveness of safe injection facilities as a harm reduction strategy. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Submitted Version
Available under License : See the attached license file.

Download (582kB) | Preview
[img] Plain Text (licence)
Available under License : See the attached license file.

Download (1kB)

Abstract

Injection drug use is associated with several public health issues, primarily the spread of serious blood-borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Injections drug users often participate in risky behaviors such as the sharing of drug paraphernalia. Blood-borne diseases such as HIV and HCV are very easily transmitted between injection drug users through shared drug paraphernalia. In the United States, over one million people are infected with HIV, and one third of these infections are related to injection drug use in some manner. There are many traditional interventions and programs currently being implemented in an attempt to address the public health issues associated with injection drug use; however, a controversial intervention focused on harm reduction is the focus of this paper. Safe injection facilities are relatively new interventions aimed at reaching high-risk injection drug users. These facilities provide a safe place in which injection drug users can take their own drugs and inject them under the supervision of medical staff. The benefits of this type of intervention are many. Injection drug users are able to inject in a safe environment in which they do not feel rushed, easy access to clean drug paraphernalia to use for injections, and trained medical staff are able to respond to overdose situations in a rapid manner. Safe injection facilities have an excellent record of reducing overdose deaths, in some cases to zero. There is potential for safe injection facilities to be of great public health significance in helping to control the spread of diseases and improving the quality of life for drug users. Safe injection facilities are common in Europe, but are viewed with great hesitation and concern in North America and some other countries. This paper is a critical review of the literature, examining studies conducted on the various issues surrounding safe injection facilities, and their potential role as an important public health intervention.


Share

Citation/Export:
Social Networking:
Share |

Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Lingle, Carrie
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairSilvestre, Anthonytonys@pitt.eduTONYSUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberFriedman, Markmsf11@pitt.eduMSF11UNSPECIFIED
Date: 9 April 2013
Date Type: Publication
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Degree: MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: No
Date Deposited: 06 May 2015 23:27
Last Modified: 25 Oct 2022 10:55
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18375

Metrics

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics


Actions (login required)

View Item View Item