Challenges and Accomplishments in Reducing Drug-Related Harm in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia is home to over 2.8 million injecting drug users (IDU) [1]. Access to harm reduction services such as needle exchange, substitution therapy and other low-threshold services designed to meet the health needs of drug users is improving but remains low, estimated at less than 9% of IDU [2]. This low level of access contributes to the fact that the region has the world's fastest growing HIV epidemic and lowest levels of access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among those in need. There are many examples of good practice in harm reduction in the region and some countries and donor programmes have made great strides in improving access to the necessary services but, to adequately address the vulnerability faced by drug users in the region, efforts to scale-up harm reduction and reform drug policy must continue. Growth of drug use and related harms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia