According to UNICEF estimates, in Ukraine there are 21,700 adolescents aged 10-18 years using injecting drugs with detrimental consequences for their health (no data on non-injectors). In the first half of 2015, 159,638 PWIDs accessed harm reduction services in Ukraine. Only 657 (or 0.41%) of clients served within this period were younger than 19 years. Vulnerable and neglected adolescents are most likely to use drugs. These include children whose parents abuse drugs or alcohol, or face other difficult family circumstances (are unemployed, single parents, parents who work long hours). Access to out-of-school activities is limited or very expensive so many adolescents spend considerable amount of their time unsupervised on the streets. Alliance for Public Health started an innovative project “Harm Reduction for Children and Young People Who Use Drugs in Ukraine” supported by Elton John AIDS Foundation.
On 20 March 2017, Practice Centre for HIV, Hepatitis C and Drug Use run by Alliance for Public Health organized a webinar “Harm reduction for adolescents who use drugs in Ukraine: reaching the underserved”. Iryna Zharuk, Project Coordinator presented the experience of Alliance for Public Health in implementing this innovative project. Participants of the webinar learnt about the intervention design, planning steps, networking and partnership, project activities, research component, challenges and how they are addressed. To listen to the webinar, follow the link.