AIDS in JAPAN -Basic Information and Coomunity Activities in Japan

Drug Users and HIV/AIDS

This article does not necessary reflect all of the views in the communities

1. The Stateituation of Drug Use and and HIV/AAIDS in Japanids Prevention

In Japan, the biggest drug use problem in relation to related to drug use and HIV/AIDS is the intravenous injecting use of methamphetamines and amphetamines. 430,000 ¡£¡« 190,000 of the general publicpeople have experienced methamphetaminesdrugs, but among injection drug users (IDUs) under treatment at mental health facilities, a high number-fully 45%--have shared needles sometime in the past year. The number with hepatitis C is also high, standing at 40%. Further, while the number of HIV infection cases-positive people who through injecting drug useuse needles is low, at 0.4%, this number is gradually increasing annuallyevery year. With this in mindTherefore, there is a strong likelihood that HIV will spread widely among IDUs: .

It is feared that tThe changing patternsing forms of drug use, which are stimulating casual drug use among the younger generation are alsoand feared to be another important factor in the increasing risk of HIV infection among them. The popularity of drugs that take non-injectingtravenous useforms, such as smoking has become popular among methamphetamine users. Alsoor the so-called club drug uses-chemical drug pills based onsuch as MDMA pills-has been pointed outbeen increasing. It is said thatUnder the influence of drugs, people's reasoning ability of judgment is reducedimpaired under the influence of drugs and thus the risk of HIV transmitssion infection through unprotected sex has also been notedis increased. It is possible that the casual drug use of drugs may have an effect on the connection between drugs and the spread of HIV in the future.

The prime deterrent basic governmental policy for drug use problem in Japan to this state is the Zero Tolerance, which is policy, adopted from the United States' "War on Drugs." In essence, tThe policy is limitedfocuses only to controls on smuggling and domestic drug traffic (supply reduction) and to legal regulations and controls on drug users (demand reduction). In the area of preventative prevention and education, "fear education," which aims to show the horror of drug uses, is central centered on with the catchphrases such as "No, Absolutely No! Don't. Don't even think about it." In medicalthe fieldinstitutions of health and medicine, while some mental health facilities conduct treatment programs for drug addicts, the acceptance of those with HIV into these facilities has been difficult, andor disease HIV prevention program among among themdrug users is still not very advancedleft to be addressed. Further, due to the small numbers reported fact that there are very few HIV-positive infection cases through people whose infection sourcinjecting drug usee is known, even the natinoonnal guideline on HIV/AIDS neither see drug users as a target group nor specify address the specific interventions for them. In other wordsThere is a lack of understanding of drug-related issues, as a public health problem, and a near-total lack of HIV/AIDS programs for drug users.

2. Community Movement

Likewise, communitycitizens' movements movements against on drug use are still lagging. DARCs, or Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center s (currently numbering about 40) have been established for people with drug problems (currently 40 branches nationwide). They used the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support group's 12-step program and, through communal living, are teachinghelp people to startaim for a new, drug-free life.

Additionally, tThe Asia Pacific Addiction Research Institute (APARI), in Tokyo is (APARI) was established in 2001 to support drug addicts. It provides legal support, counseling, care for the families of drug users and psychological treatment by experts. However, while these private organizations are prepared to work with people dealing with drug use problems, they have still not made it aroundyet to address to dealing with the new problem, that is, HIV/AIDS. At this point, however, some efforts have been made to change the situation. A professionally-run relapse intervention program for those at DARCs, is conducted on a trial basis; its theme includes HIV/AIDS and contagious diseases. Also, March in 2005 a research group focusing on HIV/AIDS and drug use published a brochure that aims to raise awareness around drug use and HIV infection. It was distributed to both those who are HIV-positive people and the medical and health organizations institutions/organizations that support and treat drug users.

3. The Need for a Harm -Reduction Approach

Recently, some medical institutions have experienced the need of introducing drug users with HIV to addiction treatment clinics. In this wayThese cases represent the actual overlap between the two problems: drug use and HIV/AIDS, it can be seen that the two problems of drugs and HIV/AIDS may overlap even more in the future. We need, not only to discuss the legal aspects of drugs, but to shift to include public health approach into the discussion of drug use issues, especially Harm Reduction Approach to the lightening of reduce the risk of HIV transmission wheninfection through drug use using drugs. To achieve this end,For this, e experts, community members and all the interested parties in in both HIV/AIDS and in drug use fieldss, the community at large, and interested parties need to exchange and share information and challenges and pushing the government to put a realistic plan of actions into effect.

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