title: [Monitoring of the activities of low-threshold access structures for drug users in Switzerland: distribution of sterile injection equipment, results for 1993 and various cantonal examples].
abstract: In Switzerland numerous structures distribute or sell sterile injecting equipment for i.v. drug users, low threshold centres (LTC's) being the major provider. A national survey of these centres was initiated by the UEPP in january 1993, in the context of the global evaluation of the new set of the federal measures to reduce the problems related to illegal drug use. This article concentrates mainly on the results of the monitoring activity of the LTC's, which in 1993 distributed 7.1 millions syringes. This important offer is not, however, uniform across the different regions of the country. Some examples of regional variations are presented, as are fluctuations of demand in many LTC's. The observed variations can be correlated with season (increased demand in summer), but also with the development of LTC's (opening /closing down of centre, change in the structure, opening hours, etc.) and with external events (policy, increased pressure from police, etc.). This type of monitoring is useful not only for researchers in the field of drug addiction and prevention of HIV/AIDS, but also for decision makers and actors in the field of public health. The recommendations based on the first three years of this monitoring suggest that efforts to prevent sexual transmission of HIV among i.v. drug users should be reinforced as well as measures to supply sterile injecting equipment and condoms at low threshold level must be continued and further developed.
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive (IUMSP) Unité d'évaluation de programmes de Prévention (UEPP), Lausanne.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benninghoff
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gervasoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dubois-Arber
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013557:Switzerland
vernacular_title: Monitoring des activités des structures a bas-seuil d'accès pour consommateurs de drogues en Suisse: remise de matériel d'injection stérile, résultats pour 1993 et quelques exemples cantonaux.