COVID impact on drug market and user behaviour_GE

The aim of the study was to examine potential impact of COVID-19 containment measures on illicit drug supply and drug use behaviour among people who use drugs (PWUD) regularly in Tbilisi, Georgia. A prospective cohort of 50 Georgian PWUD participated in a bi-weekly online survey in April – September, 2020. They also took part in qualitative interviews at 3- and 6-month follow-up time points. In addition, cohort of 4 key informants were interviewed every month to assess their perceptions of changes in illicit drug supply and drug use behaviours. Availability of drugs was reduced during the lockdown and many PWUD switched to use alternative substances when preferable drugs were not available. The variety of substances used by study participants at the end of the study was smaller compared to the baseline use. Findings regarding changes in price and quality of drugs were mixed. When stable contacts with dealers were affected PWUD searched for new contacts and supply options. When access to sterile injection equipment was limited, PWUD exercised risk-containing injection behaviours. Despite some interruptions in service delivery during the first weeks of lockdown, providers of treatment and harm reduction services showed remarkable flexibility and were able to implement effective strategies to deliver services

COVID impact on drug market and user behaviour_GE

The aim of the study was to examine potential impact of COVID-19 containment measures on illicit drug supply and drug use behaviour among people who use drugs (PWUD) regularly in Tbilisi, Georgia. A prospective cohort of 50 Georgian PWUD participated in a bi-weekly online survey in April – September, 2020. They also took part in qualitative interviews at 3- and 6-month follow-up time points. In addition, cohort of 4 key informants were interviewed every month to assess their perceptions of changes in illicit drug supply and drug use behaviours. Availability of drugs was reduced during the lockdown and many PWUD switched to use alternative substances when preferable drugs were not available. The variety of substances used by study participants at the end of the study was smaller compared to the baseline use. Findings regarding changes in price and quality of drugs were mixed. When stable contacts with dealers were affected PWUD searched for new contacts and supply options. When access to sterile injection equipment was limited, PWUD exercised risk-containing injection behaviours. Despite some interruptions in service delivery during the first weeks of lockdown, providers of treatment and harm reduction services showed remarkable flexibility and were able to implement effective strategies to deliver services

Erratum: Why Do the Clients of Georgian Needle Exchange Programmes Inject Buprenorphine?

<i>Aim:</i> The aim of the study was to understand the prevalence and patterns of the non-medical injecting use of buprenorphine among drug injectors in Georgia. <i>Method:</i> A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among injecting drug users enrolled in Georgian needle exchange programmes. The questions covered topics related to drug use career, patterns (frequency, history, dosage) and reasons for the use of buprenorphine. <i>Results:</i> Pharmaceutical buprenorphine in the form of Subutex® was the most commonly injected drug in terms of lifetime (95.5%) and last-month (75%) prevalence of use. 48% of those study participants who had injected Subutex at some point reported having used it to cope with withdrawal or to give up other opioids. 90.5% of Subutex injectors used 1–2 mg as a single dose, and the mean frequency of its injection was 6 times per month. 75% of Subutex injectors had used 3 or more types of illegal drugs during the last 30 days. <i>Conclusion:</i> While widely misused by Georgian drug injectors, Subutex is neither the principal nor the favourite drug, and it is rather used as self-treatment. The authors consider the introduction of buprenorphine maintenance treatment to be a promising effective measure to decrease its non-medical and illegal use