Abstract: Hepatitis viruses and the acquired immunodeficiency viruses often infect intravenous drug addicts (IVDAs). Our study includes 255 IVDAs (26 females and 229 males, aged 20–35 years) from Cagliari. Of 255 subjects examined, 207 (81.1%) were positive for anti-HCV and 84 (32.9%) for anti-HIV. Nineteen (7.4%) subjects were HBsAg carriers, and 12 of these (63%) had an HDV super-infection. Markers of previous HBV infections were tested in 223 cases and 137 (61.4%) were found positive; of these 14 (10.2%) also had HDV infection. Of the 223 drug addicts examined for all infection markers, 18 (8%) were negative to all markers, 46 (20.6%) were positive to only one, 89(39.9%) were positive to two, 64 (28.7%) to three and 6 (2.6%) were positive to all. Subjects with a single infection were significantly fewer than those with multiple infections. The correlations studied among the various markers did not point out any statistically significant associations. Even so, a previous HBV infection was more common while active HBV/HDV infections were less common among subjects with anti-HCV; HDV infection was more common among HIV-positive subjects. In HBsAg carriers neither HBV-DNA nor HCV-RNA was detected; HCV-RNA was found more frequently in anti-HIV positive subjects than in subjects with the anti-HCV isolate.

Abstract: The World Drug Report presents the most comprehensive statistical view of today’s illicit drug situation. This year’s edition reports signs of long-term containment of the global problem. However, the overall trend masks contrasting regional situations, which the report examines in detail. For instance, while an impressive multi-year reduction in opium poppy cultivation continued in South-East Asia, Afghanistan recorded a large increase in 2006. More interceptions of cocaine and heroin shipments across the world have played an important part in stabilizing the market. However, as we witness successes in some areas, challenges appear in others. Although drug abuse levels are stabilizing globally, countries along major and new trafficking routes, such as those now going through Africa, may face increasing levels of drug consumption. The World Drug Report 2007 also discusses a possible method to better assess and monitor the role played by organized crime in transnational drug trafficking.

Abstract: Seule une partie des usagers de cocaïne est connue des institutions sociosanitaires ou répressives (le plus souvent des usagers d’héroïne de longue durée sous traitement de substitution qui utilisent occasionnellement ou régulièrement de la cocaïne, ainsi que des personnes le plus fréquemment caractérisées par des situations de grande précarité, usagers de crack notamment). Cette enquête qualitative, dont les données ont été recueillies en 2006-2007 dans huit agglomérations françaises, repose sur l’analyse de cinquante entretiens conduits avec des consommateurs appartenant à la population d’usagers « cachée ». À travers les discours des usagers rencontrés, qui se sont longuement confiés, des « carrières type » de consommation ont pu être reconstituées dans leurs différentes étapes (de l’expérimentation du produit aux phases éventuelles de consommation les plus compulsives). En parallèle, l’étude s’est penchée sur le point de vue de ces usagers : leurs perceptions des risques liés à leurs consommations, leurs stratégies pour contrôler et limiter leurs usages et leurs éventuels besoins et recours à des aides. Loin des simplifications archétypales qui considèrent qu’il n’existe que deux profils majoritaires d’usagers de cocaïne (l’usager issu de l’élite sociale qui consomme par voie nasale dans des soirées branchées ou pour maximiser ses performances au travail versus l’usager en situation de précarité qui consomme par voie injectable ou fume du crack), cette étude dresse un portrait beaucoup plus complexe et nuancé de cette population largement polyconsommatrice.