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Groups and subgroups of drug users

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Drug-based groups

• Opiate users

• ATS users

• Polydrug users

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Other principles of making groups

• Gender

• Age

• Social status

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Make a choice of subgroups using the following criteria

• Vulnerability to HIV

• Inadequacy of HIV prevention services specific to this groups

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But Why???

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Conclusion: What makes subgroups hard-to-access?

• Absence of services suitable for those groups• We do not work methods of work with this specific

subgroup• However, we can think of outreach strategies (types,

methods of service provision and counseling) to involve more representatives of those subgroups.

• In other words, behavior change communication and outreach models depend on the drug scene – how much it is closed or opened. This is why it is important to investigate drug scene on regular basis.

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Drug scene definitions and characteristics

• Drug Use Scene is a concept based on an analysis of the following components:

• The most common drugs used;• The availability of drug traffic (making, selling and drug use); • Socio-demographic characteristics of the community using

drugs; availability of health, social services, etc. for drug users, the economic situation of the country, region and various groups of drug users;

• Epidemiological situation with regard to HIV and hepatitis;• Police tactics, especially in that region.

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Closed Drug Use Scene

• Situation where open spaces where drugs are sold (in a particular region) are not visible; there are no open places of drug users’ gathering. As a result, provision of any prevention, social and medical services becomes difficult. An example of a closed drug scene:

– Selling drugs over the phone, internet– Contacting IDUs through pharmacies only– Widely used system of drug selling through dealers– Meeting a group of IDUs in the street is not possible

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Closed Drug Use Scene

• Occasional drug users• Young drug users• Those who like experimenting• People of high social status

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Open Drug Use Scene

• Selling drugs in the street, characterized by large groups of injecting drug users who are easily accessible from the point of view of providing prevention, social and medical services.

• This type of drug use scene requires less effort in establishing BCC compared to closed drug use scene.

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Drug Use Scene

• Drug Use Scene may also vary based on the type of drug used in the region.

• When planning for BCC there is a strong necessity to investigate the local traditions.