Narcological department opened at the Hospital for Detainees

department
04:22 pm | August 28, 2009 | society

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.