A study in Russia revealed advances in the treatment of HIV and drug dependence
Russia faces a high HIV rate, comprising over 1.4 million people. In 2021 alone, there were 71,000 new infections, and 28% of these individuals reported having used injectable drugs.
By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo
An investigation conducted in Russia revealed that a method combining treatments for HIV and dependencies had a positive impact on individuals with problematic drug use.
The U.S. study, published in The Lancet HIV, highlights the effectiveness of an integrated care model in St. Petersburg, Russia. This combines antiretroviral treatment, pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder, and rehabilitation-oriented management.
HIV and addictions in Russia
Russia faces a high HIV rate, comprising over 1.4 million people. In 2021 alone, there were 71,000 new infections, and 28% of these individuals reported having used injectable drugs. These alarming numbers partially motivated the development of the Linking Infectious and Narcology Care-Part II (LINC-II), a randomized clinical trial developed at the City Addiction Hospital in St. Petersburg.
The treatment was provided by the research team to individuals with HIV who used injectable drugs. The main objective was, according to the HIV Treatment Working Group, to evaluate an intervention aimed at people with HIV receiving pharmacotherapy for opioid-related disorders, specifically injectable drug users.
The 225 participants were over 18 years old, had HIV, were hospitalized in a specialized drug addiction hospital, or had received antiretroviral treatment and had a recent diagnosis of opioid use disorder. They were divided into two groups: one that received comprehensive intervention randomly and another that received standard treatment.
The researchers compared the rates of undetectable HIV viral load at 12 months between the two groups. Undetectable viral load was defined as less than 40 copies/mL.
However, despite the positive results, the study notes that effective treatment of individuals with HIV who inject drugs remains a significant challenge. Furthermore, they suggest the implementation of this care model to address the HIV epidemic in Russia and other parts of the world.