Incarceration or mandatory treatment: Drug use and the law in the Middle East and North Africa

Al-Shazly, Fattouh; Tinasti, Khalid

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.02.012

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Prevention and treatment programmes in many MENA countries are not reaching sufficient numbers of key populations at high risk of HIV infection. Repressive and punitive approaches to drugs, criminalisation, and aggressive policing continue to discourage healthcare seeking, reinforce marginalization and stigmatization and perpetuate unsafe use of drugs in the MENA region (Al-Shazly & Tinasti, 2016 ; MENAHRA, 2020a ; Sander et al, 2019 ). This has also created mass incarceration rates of people who use drugs (PWUD), with those who are incarcerated continuing to be vulnerable to drug use, drug injecting/introduction to injecting recorded in many prisons, and remaining underserved by harm reduction, prevention, and treatment services for infectious diseases (Dolan et al, 2015 ; Heijnen et al, 2016 ; Moazen et al, 2018 ; Sander et al, 2019 ; Van Hout & Aaraj, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hout

Haddad²,

Aaraj³

2021

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has witnessed a slow but steady increase in the harm reduction response since 2016. It is likely that such gains are threatened by the impact of COVID-19. Very little is known about the health response and situation of people who use drugs (PWUD) during the pandemic in the region. A mixed method study was conducted by the MENA Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) to assess the situation of PWUD and impacts on harm reduction services during COVID-19. Twelve countries and two regional viewpoints responded to the survey. A virtual focus group was held with the MENA Network of People who Use Drugs (MENANPUD) focal points (n = 11). The study highlights how COVID-19 aggravated existing marginalization and stigmatization of PWUD and other key populations in the MENA region, with government level resourcing severely impacted by COVID-19. It further illustrates the commitment by harm reduction non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in diversifying their response, particularly through mobile outreach to drug hot spots, and the reliance of technology to support awareness raising, telemedicine, and medicine supplies. Positive shifts are observed in harm reduction policy by governments in some MENA countries and the continued commitment to support PWUD communities by existing harm reduction NGOs. Continued advocacy for and implementation of harm reduction responses at the domestic and regional levels should be underpinned by inclusion in state health emergency planning and disease control efforts, awareness raising around innovation and telemedicine to support health and NGO support systems and medicine supply chains, resourcing of NGOs, and provision of economic support for PWUD, disease surveillance, and research.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hout

Haddad²,

Aaraj³

2021

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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“…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). 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.…”

Section: Cannot Be Computed (At Least 1 Of the Variables Is Constant)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody among people who inject drugs in the Lebanese population

Rached¹,

Nakhoul²,

Richa³

et al. 2020

East Mediterr Health J

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Background: People who inject drugs (PWIDs) are prone to a number of blood-borne viral infections. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitute an important public health concern in this high risk group. Aims: We aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV antibody among PWIDs in Lebanon. Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study between June 2015 and June 2016 on PWIDs recruited through Lebanese nongovernmental organizations in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The participants were tested for HBs antigen and HCV antibody using rapid test kits. The prevalence of each virus was then calculated. The correlation between both infections and other possible risk factors was also analysed. Results: A total of 250 people were included in our study, of whom 98% were males. Mean age was 31.9 (standard deviation 8.7) years. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV among PWIDs was 1.2% and 15.6%, respectively. Older age, longer duration of drug use and lack of awareness were significantly correlated with a higher rate of HCV infection (P < 0.01). The high rate of needle sharing among our PWIDs significantly affected the prevalence of anti-HCVAb. Conclusion: PWIDs remain the subpopulation most affected with chronic HCV in Lebanon.

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“…Indeed, MENA links the major drug producers to the vast markets in Europe and the Gulf countries. Illicit substances that ow through MENA include opiates (Golden Crescent to Europe), cannabis (Morocco to the Gulf Countries), cocaine (Latin America to Europe), and amphetamine-type stimulants (Western Africa to Europe) [9]. Because of its geographical location being a passage between continents, drug addiction and abuse in MENA countries are high.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snapshot of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances in Kuwait: a qualitative analysis of illicit drugs and their associated mortality in Kuwait from 2015 to 2018

Al-Matrouk

Al-Hasan²,

Naqi³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The misuse of illicit substances is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; thus, substance abuse is a global health concern. However, a lack of laboratory-based research has limited the scientific assessment of drug misuse in the Arabian Gulf region. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to assess the problem of illicit drugs in Kuwait using laboratory-based analyses. Methods: We investigated the type and quantity of detained narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from 2015 to 2018, number of abusers, and mortality among abusers. In total, 6220 cases from the Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory and 17,755 cases from the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory were reviewed and analyzed. Substances were identified and documented using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results: Cannabis, including marijuana, was the most seized substance, followed by heroin, opium, and cocaine. Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, in the form of powder or pills, were seized in larger quantities than other psychoactive substances. Benzodiazepines, tramadol, Khat, synthetic cannabinoids, and psilocin were also seized. The most consumed substances were, in order, amphetamines (including methamphetamine), benzodiazepines, cannabis, and heroin. Drug misuse was considerably higher among men than among women. We report the death rate associated with the abuse of various illegal drugs according to sex. The mortality rate associated with single-drug use was the highest among abusers of heroin, benzodiazepines, and methamphetamine. The mortality rate asscoaited with multiple-drug use was the highest among abusers of heroin–benzodiazepines, cannabis–benzodiazepines, and cannabis–amphetamines. Conclusions: Our study shows the changing trends in quantity and variety of substances illegally abused and marketed in Kuwait. Additionally, we report a direct gender-based association between mortality and consumption of certain substances. These findings suggest that there is a growing need to conduct larger scale studies to implement new strategies, policies, and interventions in populations affected by illicit drugs.

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Incarceration or mandatory treatment: Drug use and the law in the Middle East and North Africa

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

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

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

Prevalence of hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody among people who inject drugs in the Lebanese population

Snapshot of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances in Kuwait: a qualitative analysis of illicit drugs and their associated mortality in Kuwait from 2015 to 2018

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