Many drug users unaware of addiction treatment access — Survey

The study, which focused on people who use drugs associated with HIV risk and not a general population survey on drug use, showed that only 26 per cent of the respondents knew where treatment programmes were available.

The study, he said, mapped drug use hotspots, estimated the number of people who use drugs, assessed HIV prevalence and examined behavioural and mental health issues among drug users.

Dery said the study also highlighted serious mental health challenges among people who use drugs, indicating that 44 per cent of respondents experienced moderate to severe depression, while another 44 per cent suffered moderate to severe anxiety.