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Harm reduction strategy for IDU (Injecting Drug Use) and HIV/AIDS prevention in Afghanistan

Controlling Injecting Drug Use in Afghanistan: how effective policy can help

Authors: N Safi; M Zaffar; Ministry of Public Health, Afghanistan; Ministry of Counter Narcotics, Afghanistan
Publisher: Asian Harm Reduction Network , 2005

Full text of document

Key points made:

  • There is currently no data on the number of Afghans who inject drugs, although reliable indicators suggest there is an increase in IDU in areas such as Kabul, Gardez, Farah, Herat and areas of Badakshan that border Tajikistan.
  • While all treatment centres provide health and hygiene information for problem drug users, including IDUs, there are no mass awareness prevention campaigns providing information on the relationship between drug use and HIV/AIDS. Urgent and comprehensive measures need to be developed and implemented as soon as possible.
  • Apart from health services, involvement of religious leaders, policy makers and other sectors in the planning, implementation and evaluation of any HR programme is essential.

  • The following interventions are proposed:
  1.  HIV Prevention among drug users
  2. Hierarchy of intervention objectives
  3. Implementation of specific strategies for health related harm reduction of problem drug use, including:
  • Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
  • Stigma reduction associated with drug use and HIV
  • Needle/ Syringe exchange
  • Condom promotion and distribution
  • Drug substitution therapy
  • Next steps include distribution of the document amongst policy makers and stakeholders for further discussion and organising workshops around the issue