MONITORING ACTIVITY OF LOW-THRESHOLD CENT ERS FOR INTRAVENOUS-DRUG-USERS IN SWITZERLAND - DISTRIBUTION OF STERILE INJECTING EQUIPMENT, RESULTS FOR 1993 AND SOME REGIONAL EXAMPLES

In Switzerland numerous structures distribute or sell sterile injectin g equipment for i.v. drug users, low threshold centres (LTC's) being t he major provider: A national survey of these centres was initiated by the UEPP in january 1993, in the context of the global evaluation of the new set of the federal measures to reduce the problems related to illegal drug use. This article concentrates mainly on the results of t he monitoring activity of the LTC's, which in 1993 distributed 7.1 mil lions syringes. This important offer is not, however; uniform across t he different regions of the country Some examples of regional variatio ns are presented, as are fluctuations of demand in many LTC's. The obs erved variations can be correlated with season (increased demand in su mmer), but also with the development of LTC's (opening /closing down o f centre, change in the structure, opening hours, etc.) and with exter nal events (policy, increased pressure from police, etc.). This type o f monitoring is useful not only for researchers in the field of drug a ddiction and prevention of HIVI AIDS, but also for decision makers and actors in the field of public health. The recommendations based on th e first three years of this monitoring suggest that efforts to prevent sexual transmission of HIV among iv. drug users should be reinforced as well as measures to supply sterile injecting equipment and condoms at low threshold level must be continued and further developed.