Abstract: Objective – To measure injecting drug user’s attitudes to allowing other persons to use a needle and syringe known to be contaminated with hepatitis C virus. Methods – Demographic and historical data were collected at interview from a convenience sample of methadone and buprenorphine maintenance patients in mid-2002. Respondents also answered 12 attitudinal items on needlesharing, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and harm minimisation. Results – Subjects generally understood the threat posed by HIV and hepatitis C virus including the risk of reinfection with hepatitis C. They supported needle and syringe exchanges (90%) and safe injecting rooms (84%) and a majority supported the decriminalization of cannabis (69%) and the prescription of heroin to addicts (61%). However, forty-one of 100 respondents either failed to reject the proposition that “Even if I had hepC, I’d let people use needles after me – I’d warn them but it’s their risk” or failed to accept the proposition “If I had hepC, I’d never let anyone use my needles after me, even if it meant they didn’t get a hit”. Conclusion – Despite an awareness of the risks involved, many Sydney injecting drug users are still prepared to let other people use a needle and syringe known to be contaminated with hepatitis C virus. Implications – Attempts should be made to reduce the supply of contaminated needles and syringes by encouraging injecting drug users to take responsibility for the health and safety of other users.

Abstract: National drugs observatories have flourished and developed rapidly over the last two decades as a direct consequence of the decisions taken to establish regional drug monitoring systems, both in the European Union and in the Americas. Initially, there was no reference framework available — observatories were set-up using trial and error, taking into account different national contexts and resources. This explains why today there are as many models of observatories as there are countries establishing them. Looking back at this long process, there seemed to be a need to formalise the experiences in the field, and to identify some key concepts and principles that remain valid irrespective of country or region. This handbook, a joint production by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States (CICAD–OAS), presents and describes in a clear and informative way the core operational processes and the key strategic factors that are common to all national drugs observatories.

Abstract: This publication is the first in a series dedicated to prevalent illicit synthetic stimulant drugs, also known as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). The ATS category is made up of two groups of substances. This study focuses on the supply and use of methamphetamine in Europe, set in a global context. Methamphetamine is probably the most widely consumed synthetic stimulant in the world. In many countries across the globe it is reportedly the second most prevalent illicit drug after cannabis.