The South Caucasus Anti-Drug Programme in Armenia

SCAD covers the area of treatment through local and international experts in each of the three South Caucasus countries who support a number of activities in this component including:

• In-depth assessments of the drug treatment situation in each of the three South Caucasus countries including short-and long-term technical expertise in the assessing drug treatment capacities in each of the three South Caucasus countries both in free society and in prisons.
• Training of health and counselling staff on innovative drug treatment approaches in and outside of prison, including counselling and other therapeutic activities for the complete rehabilitation of the drug addict.
• Ongoing advocacy to ensure the long-term feasibility of SCAD’s actions, including strategies to ensure the sustainability of treatment services including new staff and running costs of each treatment centre.
• Renovation and the provision of health equipment for viable institutions providing treatment services.
• A study tour for senior Ministry of Health officials to an EU-based treatment centre to familiarise authorities on new treatment approaches used in the EU and to establish links with the host and other treatment centres in the EU.
• A study tour for senior Ministry of Justice officials to a treatment centre in the EU to orientate authorities to treatment services in EU prisons and to establish links between the respective EU and South Caucasus institutions.
• Support to national authorities to ease access of drug addicts to anonymous treatment services.
• Support to expand and improve treatment services in prisons. Harm reduction strategies and recommendations will also be elaborated to decrease the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infectious diseases.
• Equipment and re-furbishing provided to treatment facilities in prisons.
• A regional conference to share experiences and identify best practices, to increase awareness of authorities on new treatment practices and to strengthen ties between authorities and experts on national, regional and international levels.