• Access to a range of evidence-based treatments including methadone and buprenorphine

• Availability of information on HIV prevention, Voluntary, Confidential Counselling and Testing (VCCT) and anti retroviral therapy (ARV)

• Outreach services and working with vulnerable groups

The growing problem of HIV, HCV and other blood-borne viruses among drug users and in particular injecting drug users is recognized as a major threat to public health. Given this situation, this Working Group will endeavour to produce a best practice document to outline the role of drug dependency  treatment and rehabilitation services in the prevention and care of HIV/AIDS and HCV. The project will identify good treatment practice as outlined in the research literature and list good practice examples to demonstrate what can be done to impact HIV and HCV prevention and care. There are a number of core treatment components that have been demonstrated to be effective in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. In this section these core components are outlined. Good practice principles relating to the components are also detailed. Case examples reflecting good practice from around the world are also provided.

The core components identified are:

• Accessible pharmacotherapy treatments for drug dependence (methadone, buprenorphine and others for substitution and withdrawal)
• HIV and HCV (and other?) testing is available
• HIV/AIDS (and other?) education (such as safe sex and safe drug use) is routinely provided
• Withdrawal services (residential and non residential) are accessible Psycho-social treatments of demonstrated efficacy (brief interventions, motivational interviewing, CBT, relapse prevention and others) are provided
• Support (wrap-around) services (eg. Vocational training, housing, financial support)
• Policy advice and advocacy.
• Access to affordable ARV's and other relevant medications
• Access to clean needles and syringes
• Outreach services targeting high-risk groups (eg. Commercial sex workers)

While some drug treatment and rehabilitation centres currently provide all these components, it is acknowledged that others may not be in a position to do so for various reasons. Linkage with other services may be another option (Eg. to provide components 8-10 above).