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

A study released today in Moscow in commemoration of the United Nations' International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking evaluates the performance of Russia's state apparatus of drug treatment from the point of view of its clients. Before an audience of 37 people, including 13 journalists from Russian news agencies, representatives of patients, families, harm reduction providers and narcologists spoke out to give the system a failing grade. The survey, which was conducted in ten cities with 988 clients of harm reduction services, found that while Russian drug users are motivated to quit using drugs—over 91% have tried to quit at least once, and most more than once—those who try the state system, called the narcological system, find it fails them. Within one month of treatment, nearly two in three clients of narcological centers return to drug use.

Representatives from the Russian Harm Reduction Network, "Svecha" self-support group, Front AIDS, the Mother's Group Azaria, and a nonstate rehabilitation center "Seven Road Crossing," who spoke at the press conference, cited the growing drug problem in Russia and the results of the survey as a sign that the system is broken. Half the people surveyed reported abuses while undergoing treatment, including beatings, lack of confidentiality, and poor living conditions. Further interviews showed that patients and their families no longer believe the narcological system can help them stop drug use—when users are treated a second or third time, it is often only to deal with withdrawal symptoms, not quit drugs altogether. Drug treatment in Russia often means only heavy sedation to mitigate withdrawal from heroin, psychological support is minimal or nonexistent, and patients are added to governmental registries. Prescription of the oral medications most effective in reducing heroin injection and HIV risk, such as methadone or buprenorphine, is illegal.

The results of the survey will be available on the Russian Harm Reduction Network's website at www.harmreduction.ru.

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For more information please contact Janna Ataiants, jataiants@sorosny.org, +1 212 548-0134, or Yulia Krasnokutskaya, yuliak@harmreduction.ru, + 7 495-785-0427.

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