Hiv programma in Rusland

Info voor punt 3. Huidig Mediagebruik en mediamiddelen

Russia has instituted "harm reduction" programs. Harm reduction is just what the name implies. They are programs that assume risky behavior will occur so they teach individuals how to reduce the risk of harm from these behaviors.

For instance, abstaining from IV drugs would be the ideal way to decrease HIV by way of sharing needles. But since completely eliminating drug use and needle sharing is not realistic, harm reduction programs education people on how to minimize the risk of harm from IV

drug use and needle sharing. Russia has introduced needle exchange programs in an effort to increase the use of sterile needles and syringes, thereby decreasing the incidence of HIV infection.

Another harm reduction program emerging in Russia is encouraging IVDUs to stop using drugs altogether. The oral drug methadone is being substituted for IV drugs in hopes of decreasing their use. Methadone is prescribed in clinics that also provide substance abuse counseling in hopes of treating substance abuse issues all together.
Unfortunately, the number of harm reduction programs is nowhere near enough to meet the demand. This is just one problem. Some local governments within the Russian Federation have criminalized methadone, making it illegal to distribute.

The sad reality is that in these cities, the priority is to arrest and punish drug users, not get them the substance abuse treatment they so badly need. Those harm reduction clinics that do resist government pressure and open their doors are hard-pressed to find customers. Not because there are no drug users but because the drug users are afraid of the government pressure, stigma, and harsh treatment of those found to be using IV drugs or who are infected with HIV.

https://homepages.avans.nl/~dlpalinc/mediaid/HIV%20Around%20the%20World%20-%20HIV%20in%20Russia.pdf