AEGiS-14IAC: The effectiveness of Harm Reduction by community base care in Arkha minority group of northern Thailand.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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The effectiveness of Harm Reduction by community base care in Arkha minority group of northern Thailand.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeD9041)

Saksoong P
Maechan Hospital Chiangrai Thailand, Chiangrai, Thailand

BACKGROUND: Drug(opium,heroin)used situation among people from the Arkha hiltribe minority group is very high. The strategy of harm reduction by community base care should be the effectiveness strategy to control HIV/AIDS,risk behavior,reduce drugs demand and crime and increse quality of life in drug user group.

METHOD: Harm reduction by drug replacement therapy in term of long term methadone treatment for 4 years at Saen-suk Arkha village that have 104 household involve all 79 drugusers ( 35 injecting drug users, 22 smoking heroin, 22 smoking opium) .And provide methadone daily dose by volunteer at community center and strengthen on counselling, awareness risk behavior,and try to removing drug users from their lifestyles in the criminal world and attracting them to socially acceptable by leader village and village commitee. RESULT: Still on methadone program 43 cases ( average doses of methadone is 15 mg )remain abstinence 17 cases, in jail 1 case, and dead 10 cases( HIV +) .And work out of village 4 cases. The effectiveness are non new case of drug user, non new case of HIV + among drug users group, non injecting drug user, so the strategy can reduce drug use and criminality and improve quality of life of drug users ( they can work in field, take care of themselves and their kid and their family).

CONCLUSION: The result support the effectiveness of harm reduction strategy by community base care is sustainable method and suitable to control drug user group in Arkha hiltribe minority of northern Thailand.

Keywords: AEGIS, Harm Reduction, Methadone, Minority Groups, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Substance-Related Disorders, Opium, HIV Seropositivity, Ethnic Groups, Heroin, Narcotics, ThailandKWDaegis,harmreduction,methadone,minoritygroups,hivinfections,risk-taking,substance-relateddisorders,opium,hivseropositivity,ethnicgroups,heroin,narcotics,thailand

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LbPeD9041

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.