Thailand Failing To Prevent & Treat HIV/AIDS Among Injection Drug Users
Around this time of year, it’s common to consider the state of the rest of the world, especially those less fortunate than us in this country. For example, those without a government at least attempting to address and help those who are struggling with drug addiction.
A report was released recently by Human Rights Watch and the Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group, the AP/International Herald Tribune pointed out that Thailand is one of those countries. Injection drug users (IDUs) are especially prone to contracting transmittable diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C and those in Thailand who are shooting their opiates are finding it more and more difficult to get the help they need due to police harassment and arrests. Also, IDUs are often denied antiretroviral treatment due to their drug using status. Harm reduction, too, is practically non-existent.
Rebecca Schleifer is an advocate for the HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Program. She says, “Thailand wants to be seen as a success story in the fight against AIDS, yet it is failing to address the epidemic among the population hit hardest by HIV.”
The introduction of Suboxone treatment into the Thai culture would go a long way toward fighting both the spread of diseases through needle sharing and addiction to opiate drugs. Heroin addiction is treatable with Suboxone and has a much higher success rate than methadone, which does not block the effect of other opiate drugs. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, which prevents the misuse of the drug by injection. With one stone, so to speak, Thailand could kill two evil birds.
Paisan Suwannawong is the director of ThaiTAG. She says that Thailand “must stop discrimination against drug users seeking health care services, or it will never meet its promise to ensure access to AIDS treatment to all who need it.”
You can check out the whole report online.
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