The OSI International Harm Reduction Development Program publishes periodic newsflashes highlighting recent developments in international efforts to reduce harms associated with drug use.

On May 17, a group of methadone patients submitted a petition to Polish Minister of Health Zbigniew Religa, calling for an increase in access to methadone treatment. The petition was signed by over 400 delegates to the International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm, which took place in Warsaw this week and included health care providers, people who use drugs, researchers, policy-makers and other leaders in the field of harm reduction from 27 countries. Mr. Religa opened the conference with a welcoming speech on May 13.

Poland initiated methadone therapy nearly 16 years ago, but today there are fewer than 1,000 people receiving treatment and long waiting lists. Additionally, buprenorphine remains unavailable as a substitution medication. A conservative estimate from the National Health Program indicates that there are more than 40,000 opiate users in the country. The government’s failure to make opiate substitution therapy available for all who could benefit is a terrible missed opportunity.

The petition called specifically for an increase in access to methadone treatment to at least 25,000 people; an immediate introduction of buprenorphine as an available treatment, access to treatment for prisoners, and a reduction of barriers to treatment entry and to take-home prescriptions.

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For more information please contact Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch, kmalinowska@sorosny.org, +1 212 548 1344, or the Social AIDS Committee in Poland, +48 22 613 35 42, office@skaids.org.

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