Red Cross Releases Report On HIV Cases For Drug Users
OAKLAND (KCBS) _ The International Federation of the Red Cross is calling for a dramatic change in the way governments deal with people who inject drugs.
The Red Cross report said that treating drug users like criminals could be contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS. It also calls the increasing rate of HIV infection for drug addicts who use needles a public health emergency.
The report found that about 16 million people worldwide use needles to inject drugs and that method of getting high is a growing trend worldwide.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
The federation, which represents Red Cross chapters in nearly every country, said drug users should be treated as medical patients, rather than criminals, a conclusion that some local care advocates agree with.
"The stigma of reduction would help in keeping going prevention efforts that we have seen work," said Joan Zweban, the executive director of the East Bay Community Recovery Project.
She said some elements of the criminal justice system are already sensitive to the need to provide treatment for drug addicts, but more needs to be done.
"In the criminal justice setting, there is a recognition that they have a treatable disorder," said Zweban. "You have drug courts, mental health courts, plus the fact that it's easier to get access to prison or jail than to treatment for your disorder."
The Red Cross report has been released in anticipation of next week's World AIDS Day.
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