The National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addictions, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
Int J Drug Policy. 2011 Mar;22(2):172-3. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2010.12.001. Epub 2011 Jan 15.
In order to reduce injecting drug use, low-threshold facilities in the Czech Republic have started to distribute empty gelatine capsules as an oral alternative of drug application for those injecting methamphetamine. This report reviews implementation of this intervention and its possible benefits and limitations.
Between December 2008 and January 2009, 109 low-threshold facilities were asked to complete a questionnaire about the capsule programmes. Two focus groups were conducted, one with professionals involved in distribution and one with peer outreach workers who were interviewed on their experience of using the capsules.
A total of 50 facilities (46%) responded to the questionnaire; 16 (32%) distributed the capsules regularly and 19 (38%) were planning to introduce this practice. The main target groups were injecting users of methamphetamine whose veins had been damaged, and methamphetamine users wishing to reduce injecting. The advantages of capsules, as perceived by service staff and peer outreach workers, were their easy use and the satisfactory effect of the oral application; health risks related to the oral use of methamphetamine were considered drawbacks.
Capsule distribution is a promising harm reduction approach for injectors of methamphetamine or other stimulants; nonetheless its benefits and limitations should be further analysed in an in-depth longitudinal study.
为了减少注射吸毒行为，捷克共和国的低门槛设施开始分发空明胶胶囊，作为注射甲基苯丙胺的口服替代物。本报告回顾了这一干预措施的实施情况及其可能的益处和局限性。
在 2008 年 12 月至 2009 年 1 月期间，要求 109 个低门槛设施完成一份关于胶囊计划的问卷。进行了两次焦点小组讨论，一次是与参与分发的专业人员，另一次是与外展工作人员，他们就使用胶囊的经验接受了采访。
共有 50 个设施（46%）对问卷做出了回应；16 个（32%）定期分发胶囊，19 个（38%）计划引入这种做法。主要目标群体是静脉受损的注射甲基苯丙胺者，以及希望减少注射的甲基苯丙胺使用者。服务人员和外展工作人员认为胶囊的优势在于其易于使用和口服应用的满意效果；而与口服甲基苯丙胺相关的健康风险则被认为是缺点。
胶囊分发是一种有前途的减少注射甲基苯丙胺或其他兴奋剂使用者伤害的方法；然而，其益处和局限性应在深入的纵向研究中进一步分析。
