Matt Curtis

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Matt Curtis mcurtis_at_sorosny.org www.soros.org/ini
tiatives/ihrd
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The International Harm Reduction Development
program (IHRD) Supports local, national, and
regional initiatives in Central and Eastern
Europe, the Russian Federation, and Central Asia
that address drug problems through measures based
on the philosophy of harm reduction. Harm
ReductionA pragmatic and humanistic approach to
diminishing the individual and social harms
associated with drug useespecially the risk of
HIV infection. The approach places an emphasis on
human rights, common sense, and public health. In
practice, harm reduction encompasses a wide range
of drug user services including needle and
syringe exchange, methadone treatment, health
education, medical referrals, and support
services.
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Estimated size of IDU population HIV prevalence
among IDUs, 1998-2003
Carmen Aceijas, Gerry V. Stimson, Mathew Hickman,
Tim Rhodes. and Karl Lorenz-Dhene
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Photo Hans Jürgen Burkard
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Heroin overdose, Volgograd
Photo Hans Jürgen Burkard
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Some examples of IHRDs work

• Provided funding and technical support for the
  development of more than 200 harm reduction
  programs in 23 countries of Eastern Europe and
  Central Asia.
• Supporting regional, population-based initiatives
  aimed at sex workers, prisoners, Roma, and street
  kids
• Promoting capacity building training programs
  and fellowships for service providers and
  advocates, workshops and conferences for various
  stakeholders.
• Seeking to create an enabling public policy
  environment influencing national drug and HIV
  policies through advocacy at all levels

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Harm Reduction Services

• Core usually built around stationary syringe
  exchange outreach and secondary exchange.
• Sexual health
• Mental Health
• Support for HCV and HIV people
• Overdose
• Housing and economic development
• Opiate substitution therapy (methadone,
  buprenorphine) and other drug treatment

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IHRD Advocacy Programs

• Community participation
• Drug policy and law enforcement
• Access to HIV treatment and care
• Availability of opiate substitution therapies and
  effective drug treatment
• Monitoring and publicizing human rights abuses
  against drug users

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Matt Curtis mcurtis_at_sorosny.org www.soros.org/ini
tiatives/ihrd