The organization of a community: community-based prevention of injecting drug use-related health problems.
In the 1980s, injection drug users in Australia mobilized and organized as communities to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other injecting-related harms. This article provides a brief history of the development and role of IDU communities in the prevention of drug use-related harms over the past 20 years and introduces the genesis of a new program that aims to improve peer-based, community-organized prevention and harm reduction initiatives. The project's limitations are noted and future needed research is suggested.
Carruthers
Susan
S
Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia. s.carruthers@curtain.edu.au
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014904:Western Australia