Leading European countries have significantly changed the attitude to the crimes related to drugs, such as drug use, its possession for personal use, etc. Due to the fact that the drug addiction primarily is a disease, these countries focused on education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation activities, but not on a punishment of drug users. The project “Bridging the Gaps: Health And Rights For Key Populations” in Georgia aimed at improving the services drug users can access and observance of their rights by changing social attitudes and government policies.

ICF “AIDS Foundation East-West” (AFEW-Ukraine) and the project’s Georgia partners (Bemoni Public Union and Tanadgoma – Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health) also share the belief that addiction is not a crime. Advocacy campaign in Georgia is being held under the same name.

“It is much more effective to assist and support timely than to struggle with the consequences,” said Anastasia Shebardina, Senior Project Manager of AFEW-Ukraine. “It also allows you to reduce the costs that the government spends on the treatment and the maintenance of people in prison. The system of services established in the Kakheti region of Georgia may be an example of complex help: harm-reduction programs for drug users, social bureau for case management, a rehabilitation center and a social enterprise (cafe).“

Rehabilitation center for drug users which has been opened by “Tanadgoma” is the first and exclusive stationary rehabilitation center in the country with free services for customers. In addition to social, psychological and medical services, drug users may also get practical skills in the social enterprise which “Bemoni” has been opened in Telavi.

We decided that it´s better to see once than hear a hundred times and on February 16 we organized a study visit for the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Crime Prevention Center, the Ministry of Corrections and Probation and the National Probation Agency in Georgia and journalists. For the first time officials saw how the system of providing continuous services for people who use drugs can be arranged; discussed the benefits of cooperation of NGOs and government institutions, and also communicate directly with the people for whom these services have been created.

Inga Sarjveladze, Deputy of the head of social service department in penitentiary system, Ministry of correction and probation: “I am impressed by how NGOs such as “Bemoni” and “Tanadgoma” support active cooperation with government organizations, and they always stand up for their beliefs, without changing them in any circumstances.”