On February 26-27, 2010

Findings of the Third National Conference on Harm Reduction of Non-medical Drug Use
Tbilisi, February 27, 2010 

The two day conference resulted in the following findings:

1. Having the complex and multi-level efficient state drug strategy with the reference on the human rights is the absolute priority for the country at present;
2. If the evidence-based approaches, strategy, strategy actions plan and interventions are to be implemented to reduce the drug demand, supply and harm in Georgia, the proper information service combining/analyzing/spreading the information and scientific research data delivered by different bodies is necessary to establish;
3. Regular studies are necessary to ensure not only one-time development of the strategy, or launch some other service, but their regular monitoring with further optimization. The institutional research mechanisms are necessary to create for this purpose.
4. Immediate review of the bills presented to the Parliament is necessary with the participation of the Georgian Harm Reduction Network and other relevant NGOs to maximally reduce the risk of violation of the human rights in the country with the cause of drug use and ensure the favorable legislative environment to plan and implement the efficient strategy with the reference on the human rights;
5. The present priorities of the Georgian Harm Reduction Network are as follows:
6. Development of the strategy and tactics to reduce the harm caused by the use of homemade stimulants;
7. Full-scale implementation of the harm reduction programs in jails, by piloting them at the initial stage (upon the relevant legislative changes will be implemented);
8. Development of the advocating strategy and its implementation in life with the aim of minimizing the death risk of overdosing;
9. Planning and implementing the relevant response measures to address the needs of female users;
10. Expansion of the coverage area (geographic, age-specific, gender-specific, etc.) of the harm reduction programs;
11. Making effort to create a continuous chain of treatment by activating new loops in it (e.g. psychosocial rehabilitation) ;
12. Development and implementation of the lobbying and advocating strategy to ensure the access to Hepatitis C treatment;
13. Advocating for the changes in the drug policy.

• For the Georgian Harm Reduction Network, in implementing above listed priorities, the support of  the Open Society – Georgia Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as the readiness for cooperation from the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Penitentiary, Ministry o Correction and Legal Assistance, World Health Organization, UNIAIDS and USAID are of great importance and will later guarantee the joint platform needed for further structural transformation.
• Thorough consideration of the guiding treatment principles drafted by the World Health Organization during the organizational planning and implementation of treatment approaches by considering the Georgian reality is important. In this respect, the model of the methadone substitution therapy program implemented with the co-funding principle is to be revised;
• Ensuring the sustainability of the existing services by their incorporating in the state structures and/or under state financing is important;
• The participation of the target group (drug dependants) in developing the strategy, drafting the action plan, and planning and implementing the services is necessary.

October, 20-21, 2008

2nd National Conference on Harm Reduction caused by drug use was held in hotel “Vere Palace” on 20-21nd October 2008.

More information about the Conference you can find here:

"...Several international experts attended the conference, like: Tom Lloyd (United Kingdom), Peter Sarosi (Hungary), Galina Kaminskaya (Ukraine), Raminta Stuikyte (Lithuania), Richard Pearsehouse (Canada), Thomas Zabransky (Czech Republic) and Juana Thomas-Rosello (from UNODC), as well as representatives from the Georgian Harm Reduction Network organizations, chair of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), the first lady Sandra Elizabeth Rullovs, Deputy Minister of Labor, Health and Social affairs Manana Djebashvili, coordinator of WHO (World Health Organization) in Georgia, Amiran Gamkrelidze,  Chair of the Health and Social Affairs committee of the Parliament Otar Toidze, Head of the social services department of the prisons department Anthon Kelbakiani, representatives of the South Caucasian Anti-Drug program and other international, governmental and non-governmental organizations. "

Harm Reduction Network of Georgia (HRNG) held a meeting at the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia on 30th April 2008 within the scope of its current project titles Drug Policy Advocacy and Capacity Building of Harm Reduction

Purpose of the meeting was to share reliable information on current processes in drug policy, increased public awareness on problems of drug usage, advocacy of pragmatic and non-discriminatory approaches and to get public support.

The following took part in the round table Public Defender of Georgia, representatives of health, local and international NGOs and mass media.

According to the statement of the Harm Reduction Network of Georgia the current drug policy violates basic human rights. The state failed to conceptualize social and healthcare aspects of drug usage and has been unable so far to introduce the adequate public healthcare system.

Availability of medical treatment programmes in Georgia is limited while social programmes are non-existent. Instead of enabling the drug users to reintegrate into the society they are fined and even imprisoned for illness, the latter creating more dangerous environment for drug usage.

Experts of Harm Reduction Network of Georgia have noted that as a result of changes in testing and registration system initiated by the Ministry of Interior of Georgia the latter assumed fully consolidated powers in the field. As a result of the mentioned the number of individuals gathered for testing was substantially increased - in 2007 57375 persons underwent obligatory testing. However, no trace of drugs was found among 35000 people.

The republican budget revenues from penalties levied for drugs totaled 30 mln GEL, while the only 250 thousand GEL was allocated for combating the problem.

According to the position of the participating NGOs the only available state instrument is the obligatory drug testing of population and limitation of certain human rights to drug users.

`It is essential presently to make sure that the State acknowledges the socially harmful results of the existing legislation and law enforcement practice. It needs to develop a strategy based on the respect of human rights and the principles of public health. Every individual has right – not a privilege to maintain and improve one’s health” declared the Public Defendant of Georgia.

Footage with supporting information was made about the round table subsequently broadcasted through Rustavi 2, Mze, Adjara, Kavkasia, Voice of America and other TV companies.

General impressions from CND. -The NGO Forum at CND was held on March 12 and summarized the results of regional consultation under the Beyond 2008 initiative by VNGOC. NGO meeting was opened with UNODC Executive Director’s speech. Mr.Costa welcomed participants and highlighted the role of nongovernmental sector in drug demand reduction field NGOs have never been so active and influential in supporting the meeting agenda. Several statements by NGOs were made at the thematic debates, including statements by EHRN, IDPC, AHRN, OSI and INPUD. All statements will be shortly available and posted on a web. Some highlights from CND thematic debated on demand reduction. . . For the full text see…

Within the scope of the HRNG’s current project titled Drug Policy Advocacy and Capacity Building of Harm Reduction Network of Georgia, a meeting was held with mass media representatives at Alternative Georgia premises on 23rd February 2008.

Purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the cooperation with mass media, inter alia by providing information on current trends in drug policy. Participants of the meeting were the HRNG member organizations, representatives of printed and electronic media and MP Kukava.Topics covered at the meeting are as follows:1. Operation of the Harm Reduction Network of Georgia – purposes, aims and goals, milestones; 2.Need to liberalize drug policy, new legislative initiative.

The meeting sparks keen interest of journalists confirmed by their active participation in the dialogue.Experts shared comprehensive information on the need to liberalize the drug policy in Georgia, thereby noting the aspects which they find disagreeable in the new legislative initiative.

Participants of the meeting were as follows:

1. Harm Reduction Network of Georgia (HRNG);
2. Representatives of printed and electronic media of Georgia.

Moscow AIDS Conference Blocks Drug Treatment Patients, Groups Charge -In advance of a regional AIDS conference in Moscow, nearly 90 health and human rights groups from 27 countries today petitioned a top health official to allow drug treatment patients to enter Russia with their medications. For the full text see…

Press-Conference Dedicated to The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. With the support of the “Open Society Georgia Foundation” on the 26th of June: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, The Georgian Harm Reduction Network (GHRN) held press-conference with the name “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back”.

The Georgian Parliament held first hearing on the Package of Law about the Fight against Drug Crime and the amendments made in the Administrative Code of Georgia.
According to the new legislation the administrative penalty for drug use increases from 500 GEL to 1000 GEL ($600) and the alternative treatment is abolished altogether.

The conference participants highlighted that above mentioned amendments will not help to reduce the number of drug users, on the contrary, such legislation will increase their number.

With this new law the programmes of public health, such as treatment of drug dependents and implementation of preventive programmes of HIV/AIDS, C Hepatitis and other infectious diseases will be seriously questioned.

Against a background of such legislation, drug users (who are main carriers of HIV/AIDS, C Hepatitis and other infectious diseases) will be unable to participate in the preventive programmes and there will be only few options left for them…

The second part of the conference was dedicated to reveal and reward the winner of the competition among journalists, held in the frame of the Harm Reduction Press-Club. The aim of the competition was to estimate the best article written on the harm reduction issue.

It is noticeable that the conference was highly highlighted by the local mass-media.

Parliament of Georgia adopts “The national anti-drug policy’s basic directions”

Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia

About confirmation of Georgia’s national anti-drug policy’s basic directions

Drug abuse is a global problem and is a matter of consideration to all countries. The consequences of drug/psychotropic substance usage is devastating to Georgia as well. Lately, in our society and especially in youth, drug abuse is spreading rapidly. This is assisted by the fact that Georgia has no national drug policy, consequently, measures against it are ineffective. Country’s and society’s control over illicit drug/psychotropic substances trade is only possible through complex, balanced and consistent anti-drug policy, with priorities like: reduction of demand on drugs/psychotropic substances and restriction of its supply; primary prevention of drug/psychotropic substance acquisition; treatment and rehabilitation of drug users; reducing drug/psychotropic substance related harm; analysis and research of drug related problem situation; effective cooperation with society; recruiting qualified human resources; expansion of international cooperation and improving appropriate legal basis.
Based on all aforementioned and “a” sub-paragraph of 4th paragraph of the article 163 of regulation of Georgia’s parliament, Georgia’s parliament resolves:

1. To confirm attached “Georgia’s national anti-drug policy’s basic directions”.
2. To entrust government of Georgia to prepare and present to the parliament a plan of action by 1st April 2007 according to “Georgia’s national anti-drug policy’s basic directions”.
3. To entrust parliament’s healthcare and social issues committee to carry out the control on execution of this resolution.
4. The resolution shall come into effect after its publication.

Parliament of Georgia
Chairperson Nino Burdjanadze