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injecting drug userslatest news & developments
After months of negotiations, things are looking up for injecting drug users in Durban. (Yannis Behrakis, Reuters)
BHEKISISA TEAM
Video

Durban delays re-opening of city’s only needle exchange programme

The project’s closure six months ago forced some injecting drug users to share needles and risk infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

  • Joan Van Dyk
5 min read
Injecting drug users are at high risk of contracting Hepatitis C from sharing needles. (Soe Zeya Tun, Reuters)
HARM REDUCTION
Video

SA needs R4-billion to fight this killer virus you may never have heard of

Newer, lifesaving drugs for South Africa’s "silent" killer aren’t yet available in the country.

  • Pontsho Pilane
4 min read
Harm reduction programmes can help injecting drug users reduce their risk of HIV infection.
CITY OF TSHWANE
Video

Durban cuts city’s only needle exchange programme

A tale of two cities: Durban ditches drug users while Tshwane becomes the first city in SA to pioneer and fund new ways to keep them safe.

  • Joan Van Dyk
5 min read
Pictures of drug users injecting themselves with the blood of others have gone viral in SA.
HARM REDUCTION

Freak waves and HIV in Durban. What’s the link?

Misconceptions about HIV infection and injection drug use could shut down the only project working to curb it.

  • Joan Van Dyk
6 min read
Injecting drug users are at high risk of contracting Hepatitis C from sharing needles. (Soe Zeya Tun, Reuters)
DRUG USE

These countries medically prescribe heroin, should SA follow suit?

It’s time that evidence, not stigma, drive SA’s drug policies.

  • Olusegun Obasanjo Comment Author
6 min read
Helen Zille is the new chairperson of the DA’s federal council. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
DRUG USE

It’s time to end SA’s war on drugs

Drugs have destroyed many lives, but wrongheaded governmental policies have destroyed many more, argue experts.

  • Shaun Shelly
8 min read
When the hard lockdowns kicked in it was discovered that 3 000 schools didn’t have an adequate water supply. But this is not a new problem
HARM REDUCTION

[EXCLUSIVE] Police arrest health workers for giving drug users clean water

The health department calls arrests ‘unfortunate’ after senior officials spend night trying to get workers out of cells.

  • Laura Lopez Gonzalez
4 min read
Injecting drug users need access to safe needle exchanges and opiate substitution programmes.
BHEKISISA TEAM

How Africa’s addicts are being helped to stay HIV-free

Those who ‘shoot up’ have a higher risk of getting infected, but some progressive nations are encouraging drug users to adopt safer habits.

  • Amy Green
  • Bhekisisa Team
5 min read