TEHRAN – Harm reduction workers are quietly changing lives, with their mission to provide essential services to marginalized individuals, drug use people, homeless and those at risk of HIV in South Tehran.
With a combination of treatment referrals, hygiene services and caring support, their efforts provide a lifeline for those in need, led through the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Iran.
Iran’s UNODC Country Office is at the forefront of the introduction and implementation of drug and HIV prevention, treatment and care programs under Iran’s National Partnership Program. These initiatives aim to reduce drug demand, reduce public health impacts, and protect vulnerable populations from addiction and HIV, the UNODC website announced in a press release in March.
The key focus is to strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) play a stronger role in prevention, treatment and care efforts, ensuring a more comprehensive and effective response.
Services provided were both immediate and life-changing, including hygienic support such as clean clothing and bathing facilities, medical and treatment referrals for those with respiratory illnesses or injuries, and methadone treatment for those seeking to quit drugs. Counseling and recovery support were also provided, addressing behavioral issues and providing a route to rehabilitation through referrals to specialized centres.
Women at higher risk often cited targeted warnings, including support for those who stopped using drugs but needed further support or who had recurred. Many of them were homeless, but important services were provided, including wound care, hygiene products and access to methadone treatment. These interventions not only address immediate needs, but also restore dignity and hope to those who have long been ignored.
One important aspect of these efforts is that the program focuses on individuals through a variety of ways, including focusing on individual care and providing treatment methods tailored to different types of addiction, and focusing on individuals through the fact that each individual receives care that suits their specific needs. Promoting self-belief and personal empowerment – a key component of treatment and prevention, helping individuals build confidence in their ability to recover. We examine the impact of education and employment on the treatment process and recognize that stability and purpose are key to long-term recovery. Compare existing treatment methods to identify the most effective approaches and improve treatment retention.
Techniques such as individual and group psychotherapy are used in conjunction with drug-assisted treatments to address the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction.
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