Table 1 Understanding and challenging drug use stigma in HIV care and treatment clinics curriculum

Session 1: Creating awareness about stigma and introduction to drug use

1) Naming stigma through pictures

2) Stigma-reflection

3) Naming drugs

4) Classification of drugs

• Lack of awareness of stigma

• Lack of knowledge of drug use

Session 2: Understanding and addressing fear of interacting with people who use drugs living with HIV

1) What do people say, fear and do about people who use drugs?

2) Why do people start using drugs?

3) Major concerns health workers have about providing services to PWUD who are living with HIV

• Stereotypes

• Fear

• Lack of knowledge of drug use

Session 3: Understanding drug use, addiction and co-occurring conditions

1) Addiction

2) Physical and psychological dependency

3) Providing treatment and care for clients who use drugs living with HIV

• Lack of knowledge about drug use as a medical condition and absence of skills to care for PWUD

Session 4: Understanding stigma

1) Panel Discussion: Experience-sharing from PWUD

2) Forms, effects and causes of drug use stigma (Problem tree)

• All drivers

Session 5: Working to create change

1) Be the Change! How to provide non-stigmatizing services to people who use drugs

2) Finding solutions to challenge drug use stigma, writing a code of practice

• All drivers