| Popis: |
HIV among drug injectors had become a major problem in Scotland by the early 1990s. Of a total of 1,943 HIV infections reported in Scotland up to the end of 1991, 991 (51%) were related to injecting drug use (IDU). The threat of HIV spreading among drug injectors in Glasgow was intensified by a dramatic increase in the number of injectors in the early 1980s. This increase in injecting, together with the threat of HIV posed an enormous problem for existing drugs services in Glasgow. In 1986, the World Health Organisation suggested that supplying sterile needle and syringes to drug injectors could contribute to HIV. The decision to set up needle exchanges in the UK was made by Government in 1986. The first three needle exchanges in Scotland were opened in Glasgow (Ruchill Hospital), Dundee and Edinburgh in 1987. By 1992 there were eight needle exchanges operating in Glasgow. Research conducted up to 1991, (when the work for this thesis began), indicated that were eight key questions which should be answered in the course of an evaluation into needle exchanges. The answers to these questions were debated in the published literature. Four related to service delivery and four to service impact. These are central to this thesis. |
