Development and evaluation of specialist services for female drug users in Iran
NDARC Staff
Kate Dolan
Other Investigators
Dr Bijan Nassirimanesh, Persepolis (NGO) and Dr Azarakhsh Mokri (Iranian National Centre of Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences)
Aims
The aims of this project are as follows:
- to improve the health, welfare and social functioning of women who use drugs including those who inject drugs, are former prisoners or engage in commercial sex work in Tehran
- to design, deliver and evaluate a co-ordinated range of services to meet the immediate health and welfare needs of this vulnerable population
- to provide services that are non-judgemental, professional, culturally sensitive, accessible and acceptable to Iranian women in this target population
Design and Method
The activities to be carried out in this program of work are as follows:
- to design programs and establish a women only community based clinic to provide a range of services including: methadone maintenance treatment, sexual health services, needle syringe program, contraception and family planning, primary healthcare, counselling, employment training, legal services and a drop in centre
- to undertake research and produce evidence on the efficacy of project activities including a study of the prison methadone program
Funding
The Drosos Foundation, Switzerland