2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.02.015
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Implementing opioid substitution in Lebanon: Inception and challenges

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Cited by 9 publications
(5 citation statements)
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“…Results have important implications to guide policy makers in making informed decisions about treatment options of individuals with opioid use disorder. The challenges related to the difficult socio-political context that faced the implementation of OAT program in Lebanon since its launching in December 2011 should be taken into consideration [ 35 ]. Other MENA countries implementing OAT should also take into consideration the specificities of the treatment protocol adopted by the Lebanese pilot program and should address adopting alternative treatment provision protocols.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Results have important implications to guide policy makers in making informed decisions about treatment options of individuals with opioid use disorder. The challenges related to the difficult socio-political context that faced the implementation of OAT program in Lebanon since its launching in December 2011 should be taken into consideration [ 35 ]. Other MENA countries implementing OAT should also take into consideration the specificities of the treatment protocol adopted by the Lebanese pilot program and should address adopting alternative treatment provision protocols.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The Lebanese Internal Security Forces (LISF) reported that, between 2014 and 2016, a yearly average mean of 3,053 individuals with a substance use disorder were convicted, of which, 6 percent were Heroin users, ranking it the third most used substance after Cannabis and Cocaine, respectively (LISF, 2014/2015/2016). The significant decrease by around 49 percent in the number of Heroin users arrested (6 percent of 3,053=183) compared to a previous study (18 percent of 2000 = 360) by El-Khoury et al (2016) could be explained by at least one of three factors: first, a more efficient OST implementation in the community, including more public and professional awareness about the importance of OST as an evidence-based treatment and the growth of new OST centers; second, a possible decrease in opiates use and relevant criminal activities; and third, the decision by the involved legal authorities to refer addicts to treatment rather than to jail.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 52%
“…Other Arab countries, including Kuwait and Oman, have only recently begun piloting OST services on a small scale. Noteworthy, in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, opioid substitution is restricted for inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation purposes (El-Khoury et al , 2016).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Although it may reflect the low baseline endemicity in the general Lebanese population, other factors may be related to such a low rate such as the current drug and harm reduction policies. Lebanon is one of the 5 Arab countries providing a needle and syringe exchange programme along with Egypt, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia (24). On the other hand, what characterizes Lebanon from the majority of Arab countries is that the Lebanese court imposes dependence treatment besides sanction for incarcerated drug users, thus, reducing their future risk of viral exposure (25).…”
Section: Cannot Be Computed (At Least 1 Of the Variables Is Constant)mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Furthermore, opioid substitution therapy (OST) was implemented in Lebanon in 2011 along with only 4 other Middle Eastern countries, Bahrain, Islamic Republic of Iran, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. According to Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reports, the prevalence of HCV was reduced from 27% to 16% in 2014, although a clear causal correlation could not be confirmed between the reduction and OST implementation (24). Harm reduction strategies for PWIDs such as needle and syringe programmes and OST had limited impact on HCV prevention; a combination of interventions is often needed (26).…”
Section: Cannot Be Computed (At Least 1 Of the Variables Is Constant)mentioning
confidence: 99%