Transmitted through the sharing of needles, syringes and, unlike HIV, other injecting-related equipment, hepatitis C is the most common infectious disease among people who inject drugs. On average 60% of peoplw who inject drugs (PWID) are estimated to have hepatitis C in Europe and in several countries the vast majority, over 90%, of people who inject drugs are believed to be living with hepatitis C. While the HIV epidemic is stabilizing overall across the EU, hepatitis C is increasingly prevalent and disproportionately affects drug users.

This report was written by WHO, UNAIDS, UNODC, Global Fund and ANPUD.

This is the first edition of the IDPC Drug Policy Guide aimed at national government policy makers. This publication is a collaborative effort by a number of IDPC members and partners, and brings together global evidence and best practices on the design and implementation of drug policies and programmes at national level.

New Zealand Drug Foundation (Te Tuapapa Tarukino o Aotearoa) Policy Position, August 2007This paper presents the New Zealand Drug Foundation's policy position on reducing alcohol and other drugs (AOD) problems in New Zealand's criminal justice system. It is aimed at identifying priorities for action which are supported by evidence. The position is supported by a detailed review of current evidence on effective interventions.

Hepatitis C Among Injecting Drug Users in the New EU Member States and Neighboring Countries: Situation, Guidelines and Recommendations. CEEHRN Briefing Paper, September 2007.This report describes the situation with hepatitis C among injecting drug users in the 13 countries of the region, and critically examines the availability of HCV prevention services.

This article by Jamie Bridge describes some of the issues and problems facing needle exchange services and staff in the UK. An audit of needle exchanges in the UK showed the extent of the "postcode lottery" that exists in terms of service coverage and quality. The article (from Druglink magazine - the bi-monthly publication from DrugScope in the UK) describes what needs to be done in order to take needle exchange into the next era and rise to the challenges of rising HIV and hepatitis C prevalence amongst the country's injecting drug users.