Narcological department opened at the Hospital for Detainees
Support A1+!Today, within the framework of the 5th phase of the South Caucasus Anti Drug (SCAD-V) programme, the new Narcological Department was officially opened at the Hospital for Detainees of the Ministry of Justice of Republic of Armenia. The department has been established and equipped with the joint financial support of the SCAD-V programme funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC). The Ministry of Justice has secured the workmanship and supervision of the implementation of construction works.
The project is aimed to improve the health services, and, particularly, addiction treatment capacities for inmates. At the same time, it allows separating patients with tuberculosis from other patients. The new Narcological Department will create an enabling environment for inmate drug addicts to receive qualified drug detoxification treatment. It is also anticipated that the department will provide methadone substitution treatment along with psycho-social support to injecting drug user inmates. By the establishment of the new Narcological Department, the treatment services provided to drug addicts will be improved and the innovative drug treatment methods will help to enhance the quality of life of drug addicted inmates. The project results will also contribute to the risk reduction for such blood-borne diseases, as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, C and tuberculosis.
Addressing the event, Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. said, "Drug addiction is a behavioral and mental chronic disorder which requires continuous care - both in civil society and in the penitentiary. Treatment of addiction and integration of drug treatment into public health programs and social services are viewed as cost-effective means of preventing the spread of problematic drug use and blood born viruses, like Hepatitis C and HIV. Treating drug addicts, regardless their civil status, is an investment in the health of Armenian nation."
The overall objective of the SCAD-V programme is the gradual adoption by South Caucasus beneficiary authorities of EU good practices in the field of drug policies. From 2007-09, the SCAD programme has encouraged the Governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to adopt EU good practices in five key areas: legal assistance, drug epidemiology/information, prevention of drug use, treatment for drug addicts, and reinforcement of regional law-enforcement cooperation. The programme covers both supply and demand reduction aspects and facilitates the implementation of drug related components of the Action Plans of the European Neighborhood Policy.
The SCAD-V also carries out research, baseline studies on drug epidemiology aimed at the establishment of national drug information systems, trains treatment professionals on innovative methods of treatment and harm reduction, enhances regional cooperation between law-enforcement operational officers, and trains educators, mass media representatives and NGOs on primary drug prevention techniques. Provision of technical assistance for detoxification centers and forensic laboratories is another area of the programme activity.
