The Russian authorities have come under strong criticism for their policies aimed at dealing with injecting drug users and the resulting HIV epidemic. Education to control drug abuse has focused primarily on the promotion of drug abstinence.
In addition, officials have relied on criminalization as the main deterrent. That approach has created obstacles to effective addiction treatment and HIV prevention.
Another policy, which has proven effective in other countries, is “harm reduction.” This approach, once dismissed by the Russian authorities, puts prevention of HIV infection and transmission first — and features needle exchange programs and treatment with substitute drugs taken orally.
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