Dushanbe, 19.02.2016. (NIAT “Khovar”). — Experts from Germany and Belarus provided a two-day training on drug treatment for fifteen members of the national working group, which includes narcologists, psychologists, social workers and NGOs’ staff.

This activity is supported within the sixth phase of the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP 6), funded by the European Union and implemented by a Consortium of EU Member States’ agencies.

CADAP Phase 6 represents continuity of the EU policy and long term engagement with Central Asian partners to help further strengthen their national policies in drug demand reduction.

The training covered topics in principles of drug addiction diagnosis and treatment, medication-assisted treatment, including opioid substitution treatment in special situations (pregnancy, chronic pain, comorbid psychiatric disorders and HIV), abstinence-oriented treatment and new psychoactive substances.

National experts on drug treatment will participate in training-of-trainers (ToT) courses throughout 2016-2017. Trainings will be conducted by experts from Germany, Belarus and Austria. After completion of trainings local experts will get certificates of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

It is expected that after these training-of-trainers (ToT) courses, participants will replicate trainings to local specialists in drug addiction treatment to further improve standards of medical services rendered for people who use drugs.

The proposed trainings’ topics include drawing up of demand reduction models on the basis of the best EU and international practices, including diagnostic and treatment, harm reduction, rehabilitation, social reintegration and therapeutic communities, and strengthening of NGOs’ structures to develop programmes targeting drug users.