International harm reduction indicators are still not reached: results from a repeated cross-sectional study on drug paraphernalia distribution in Germany, 2021.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To prevent the transmission of blood-borne infections and reach the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal to distribute 300 sterile needles and syringes each year per person who injects drugs (PWID). We aimed to assess drug paraphernalia distribution in Germany in 2021, including the WHO indicator, and to analyse changes to the distribution measured in 2018.

Methods

We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of low-threshold drug services in Germany. We assessed type and quantity of distributed drug paraphernalia and the number of supplied PWID in 2021 using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We conducted a descriptive statistical analysis of data from 2021, assessed fulfillment of the WHO indicator a

SUBMITTER: Hommes F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10507885 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature