TUBIDU: Guidance for community based organisations on tuberculosis services for people who inject drugs

People who inject drugs (PWID) are often among the most vulnerable and socially excluded people in any society and are therefore exposed to many risk factors which put them at high risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB). When compared with the general population, people who use illicit drugs have a higher risk of developing active TB disease, once infected.3,4 Although the higher risk of TB observed in PWID is usually the result of associated HIV infection, PWID are also more commonly predisposed to imprisonment, living in cramped conditions or in dwellings with poor ventilation, homelessness, poor nutrition and associated with alcoholism. All those factors complicate TB diagnosis and treatment among PWID, as they tend to have complex needs and less access to life-saving interventions. Thus, a more coordinated response to drug users’ needs is required, in order to provide universal access to prevention, treatment and care services at all entry points.