Open Society and Soros Foundation
Past Events

Why Russia Says No to Methadone

Experts Discuss Barriers to HIV Prevention and Treatment in Russia

Location: OSI-New York
Event Date: April 27, 2009
Speakers: Vladimir Mendelevich, Robert Newman, Daniel Wolfe

Methadone, a widely prescribed medicine for treating opiate addiction in many countries, is currently banned in Russia. Professor Vladimir Mendelevich discussed the ban and why controversy still surrounds the use of methadone. He assessed the opportunities and challenges facing advocates who support the use of medicines to reduce cravings for illicit drugs, as well as the public health implications of not legalizing methadone in Russia.

Robert Newman, MD, MPH, who has played a major role in planning and directing some of the largest addiction treatment programs in the world, offered his perspective on the methadone ban in Russia.

Daniel Wolfe, director of the Open Society Institute International Harm Reduction Development program, moderated the discussion.

Related Information

At What Cost? HIV and Human Rights Consequences of the Global "War on Drugs"
March 2009
This OSI report examines the unintended consequences of aggressive antidrug policies on people who use drugs, their families, and the health care providers who work with them.

Barriers to Access: Medication-Assisted Treatment and Injection-Driven HIV Epidemics
April 2008
Life-saving, medication-assisted addiction treatment remains largely inaccessible in developing and transitional countries with injection-driven HIV epidemics, as this OSI fact sheet documents.

Superheroes Raise Awareness of Lifesaving Medicines for Drug Users
August 3, 2008
OSI has launched a campaign, "Where's the Methadone?" to raise awareness about the lack of access to lifesaving drug-addiction treatments.

You can access this page at the following URL:
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ihrd/events/methadone_20090427

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