The Head of the Kyrgyz Republican Center of Narcology Tynchtykbek Asanov expressed a positive assessment of training results. “The basic aim to exchange experience in accomplishing programs to reduce the vulnerability of injecting drug users was achieved. Issues of the human rights of drug users, governmental support, and issues of practical program implementation were touched”, Tynchtykbek Asanov noted.

Special focus was given to the methadone substitution treatment therapy, the pilot project of which has been realized only in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. This therapy is directed at shifting patients with heroin dependence to controlled usage of methadone under strict supervision of a physician. Though opiate dependence remains, methadone is less harmful for health than heroin.

“Participants showed great curiosity to this issue. During trainings, participants visited our Center of Narcology to familiarize themselves with the program. It seemed to me that they were satisfied. All left with the intention to propose policymakers to permit the introduction of a substitution therapy”, Tynchtykbek Asanov said.

Currently, more than 150 patients take part in the methadone substitution treatment therapy. This is 4.5% of all registered and 0.3% of the estimated number of injecting drug users in Kyrgyz Republic. Only 0.25 USD is provided per patient for their daily treatment.

“After methadone therapy, 90% out of 156 patients were feeling physically as well as psychologically better than before. 59% of participants found jobs, while prior to entering the methadone program, 21% did. Families and relatives of patients also testified to the positive impact of the methadone therapy”, Mamasobyr Burhanov, chief of the Osh city Center of Narcology told conference participants.

Participants also discussed the issue of funding and governmental assistance. It was found that Kyrgyzstan, which is leading among Central Asian countries on the number of drug users per capita, received financial and technical assistance only from donor organizations. Projects were realized mostly via non-governmental organizations. The Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan governments provided not only political support, as in Kyrgyzstan, but also financial support. For example, hot lines were organized in most of the clinics of Uzbekistan where drug users could receive help.

However, participants expressed doubt of its efficiency. Drug users would not go to state institutions, believing they would be sent to police station or psychiatric clinics, as was the case during Soviet times.

\"Information exchange took place actively, but the experience has to be generalized. For example, this could take place in form of creating association of projects on harm reduction or publishing information\", Vadim Demchenko, head trainer of the Almaty-based East-West AIDS Foundation told the Analyst.