Coordination, cooperation, and creativity within harm reduction networks in Iran: COVID-19 prevention and control among people who use drugs

Abstract

An unprecedented public health crisis confronts the world. Iran is among the hardest-hit countries, where effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are stretched across society and felt by the most marginalised people. Among people who use drugs, a comprehensive response to the crisis calls for broad collaboration, coordination, and creativity involving multiple government and non-government organisations. This commentary provides early insights into an unfolding experience, demonstrating the operational and policy impact of an initiative, bringing together a diverse array of harm reduction stakeholders to address the pandemic. In the context of lived experiences of social and economic marginalization, this initiative intends to lead efforts in developing an equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Drug Use and Harm Reduction Programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: a Regional Consultation of Stakeholders and People Who Use Drugs

“…Commentaries have recently underscored that whilst MENA states have responded to this public health crisis swiftly by closing borders, restricting population movement, and instigating curfews, human rights impacts were generally ignored under the guise of continued enforcement of repressive laws and new legislation (Thiry, 2020). Some recent editorials from the MENA region (Iran, Pakistan) have documented the situation regarding harmful drug use, viral transmission, and harm reduction responses in the MENA region and have called for increased policy maker vigilance in supporting continued responses (Alavi et al, 2020;Aslam, 2020;. Iran for example has illustrated how efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis among PWUD, included cessation of compulsory and residential addiction treatment admissions for a time, prisoners release schemes, and longer take-home doses provided to those on opioid agonist therapy (OAT).…”

Pulse-Check: Exploration of Early COVID-19 Pandemic Health Care and Public Health Responses in Select Middle East Nations

“…In Iran, Rebirth Charity Society led a working group to develop an interdisciplinary approach to harm reduction among people who use drugs and homeless populations. They distributed masks, sanitizer, soap, clean water, and food (Alavi et al, 2021).…”

Substance use policy and practice in the COVID-19 pandemic: Learning from early pandemic responses through internationally comparative field data

“…Drug policies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America vary enormously (Beletsky et al, 2015;Chen, 2020;Liao et al, 2013;Naamara & Muhwezi, 2014;Tran et al, 2015). Some countries in the Middle East and Asia have made harm reduction services and MOUD widely available, including Iran (Alavi et al, 2021;Ekhtiari et al, 2020) and Taiwan (Chen, 2016). Other countries maintain more regressive or even scientifically contraindicated policies (criminal justice responses masquerading as public health), such as China's routine use of coerced drug treatment (Li, 2013) and Russia's outright ban of opioid agonist MOUD, regardless of medical use (The Lancet, 2011).…”