An increase in recently acquired HIV in people who inject drugs  has been noted in Dublin since early 2015. A multidisciplinary incident team has been set up by the Director of Public Health in Dublin to investigate and respond to the increase. Clinicians from the drug services are concerned that the increase is linked to injection of a synthetic cathinone PVP, street name Snow Blow, with consequent more frequent injecting, and unsafe sexual and needle sharing practices. This has mainly been seen in chaotic drug users, who report polydrug use, and are often homeless.

 

Warwickshire’s Drug and Alcohol treatment service – The Recovery Partnership; can offer confidential advice and information about drug use and also sterile injecting equipment, condoms, advice about safer injecting and alternatives to injecting and blood borne virus testing and immunisation.

You can also access sterile injecting equipment and safely dispose of used equipment at local pharmacies wherever you see this sign:

To read the full report please copy and paste this link:

http://ndsc.newsweaver.ie/epiinsight/1bumldnml2k?a=1&p=48942721&t=17517774

If you’re worried about your or somebody elses’ drug use there is a range of free and confidential treatment and recovery services for adults and young people available across Warwickshire: