PRISON DRUG USE HITS HIV CONTROL

NATIONAL control of HIV could be threatened by an epidemic among prisoners
who share needles to inject drugs - with researchers estimating up to 150
inmates could become infected each year in NSW jails alone.

The new figures are much higher than previously assumed, according to one
of the researchers, Alex Wodak, from St Vincent's Hospital's Alcohol and
Drug Service, and contradict NSW Health Department claims that there is no
evidence of HIV transmission in jails.

Screening of entrants to Australian prisons had identified less than 1 per
cent as HIV-positive, while eight cases of HIV transmission in jail had
been recorded, the researchers said.

The researchers believe jails around the country could have similar rates
of HIV-transmission to that estimated for NSW prisons.

They warn HIV infection could spread from jails to the general community -
with HIV-positive prisoners exposing their partners to infection as they
resume sexual and drug-taking activity on release.

It is estimated about half the prison population are injecting drug users,
with about half of those using drugs in jail. In prison it is common for
cut-down syringes to be shared between 5 to 20 people.

NSW Corrections Health chief executive officer Debora Picone said 19
inmates had been identified as HIV-positive through voluntary
blood-screening conducted when they entered jail.

Professor Picone said it was too early to comment on the latest research,
but stated: "Our public health team will be looking at the whole issue."

National Centre on HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research deputy director
John Kaldor said the findings emphasised the need for vigilance, although
available evidence did not suggest there was significant transmission of
HIV in jails.

The new estimates are contained in one of two studies conducted by Kate
Dolan and Wayne Hall from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and
Dr Wodak. Their reports are published in the latest editions of the
journals Drug and Alcohol Dependence and Drug and Alcohol Review.

The researchers have called for methadone programs to be expanded in
prisons, saying the treatment lowers rates of heroin injection and needle
sharing by inmates.

Dr Dolan said NSW's program should be expanded - from the present 850
participants to at least 2000 prisoners - and that other jurisdictions
should adopt formal programs.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski