Basic principles for treatment and psychosocial support of drug dependent people living with HIV/AIDS /

Abstract

This guidance document, built on expert advice and developed in consultation with UNAIDS, articulates the central principles for treatment and support of HIV-positive injecting drug users. It is addressed to policy makers, treatment planners and service providers, particularly those who deal with substance-dependent populations, and to patient organizations. It is intended not only to help ensure that this population has fair access to anti-retroviral and other HIV-related treatment— in line with that available to persons who are not substance-dependent—but to stimulate coordination and communication among healthcare providers in different delivery systems. Building on existing guidance documents for HIV prevention and treatment in a wide variety of settings, this document also describes components and concrete actions to promote these principles in practice. While the principles and implementing steps are interrelated and interdependent, in the interest of promoting a broad view of the unique problems posed by the group at hand, each principle is treated separately.