Living with the Daily Dose

Specialinstitutionen Forchhammersvej participated year 2003 and 2004 in a partly EU-financed project: Living with the daily dose.

Interviews of 35 drug-dependent, HIV-positive persons and 18 professionals was the foundation of the Project.

Key findings were as follows:

• Successful access and adherence of HIV-positive drug users to antiretroviral treatment is best ensured once the health care system adapts to the needs of the drug users, rather than vice versa.
  In other words, successful treatment is, in all aspects, a matter of adherence rather than compliance.
  This approach is necessary for drug users and medical staff, as well as policy makers, if adherence is to be successfully implemented, supervised, and planned.
• It is advisable not to have guidelines that are too strict for antiretroviral treatment of HIV-positive drug users.
  Rather, it is important to focus explicitly on individualised treatment.
  In Denmark, the health care system offers a unique opportunity for such treatment procedures.
  However, more focus on individualised treatment in practice is needed.
• Ensuring adequate doses of methadone for HIV-positive drug users on methadone maintenance is an important objective because it improves access to treatment, adherence to treatment, as well as prevention of HIV-infection for others.

For further information, please contact: christian.hvidt@sof.kk.dk