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Emerging Risks Due to New Injecting Patterns in Hungary During Austerity Times
Anna Tarján1, Mária Dudás, V Anna Gyarmathy
11Hungarian Reitox National Focal Point, National Centre for Epidemiology , Budapest , Hungary.
Substance Use & Misuse
|March 17, 2015
Summary
New psychoactive substance (NPS) injectors in Hungary showed higher risks for infections like HCV and shared more equipment. Reduced syringe distribution may worsen future public health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Heroin injection in Hungary shifted to new psychoactive substances (NPS) post-2010.
- This transition coincided with observed increases in high-risk injection behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of new psychoactive substance (NPS) use on injecting behaviors and health risks.
- To assess the consequences of reduced harm reduction services.
Main Methods:
- Sero-prevalence studies were conducted.
- Data on injecting paraphernalia sharing, frequency of use, syringe reuse, and HCV prevalence were collected.
Main Results:
- Stimulant and particularly NPS injectors exhibited higher rates of paraphernalia sharing, daily injections, and syringe reuse.
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevalence was elevated among NPS injectors.
- Syringe distribution decreased by 35% in 2012.
Conclusions:
- The shift to NPS injection is associated with increased risk behaviors and potential for infectious disease transmission.
- Austerity measures reducing syringe availability may have significant future epidemiological consequences.
- Further research is needed to understand long-term impacts and inform public health strategies.