Continuum of care

Basic principle

Harm reduction is based on the principle that every substance user has the ability to intervene in his or her use. Every substance user also has the ability to unlock, strengthen and develop this potential.

Africa

In December 2009 Mainline researched the living circumstances of drug users in the Kenian cities of Nairobi and Mombassa. Unfortunately there is insufficient attention for harm reduction and the rights of drug users, most of whom smoke heroin.

Eastern Europe

Mainline works in Georgia, Russia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. In Georgia, for example, Mainline works with two partner organisations, ‘Alternative Georgia’ and ‘Tanadgoma’, in efforts to improve the situation of substance users.

Continuum of Care

What is the ‘continuum of care’ and what does Mainline have to do with it?

The ‘continuum of care’ is a way of working that ensures support for substance users in all of their needs and choices. This can be realised in many ways. By providing reception centres for active drug users where they are also provided with good quality information and a facility for needle exchange. It also means that there are detox facilities for those people wanting to quit the use of drugs, or making substitution treatment possible. It means that hiv-positive people have access to treatment facilities. When they have decided to lead a life without drugs, upon returning to their families, former drug users receive employment and support. The care for family members and spouses can be part of this in order to prevent that they contract infectious diseases through a drug using spouse or family member.

In this way, both the rights and interests of the substance user are ensured, as well as the interests of society (by protecting public health and reducing possible public nuisance and other forms of damage). Mainline supports organisations that try to organise the entire continuum of care in their respective countries. Sometimes by working on it ourselves, sometimes by lobbying and forming connections with local government. It is our mission to support substance users during each phase of their substance using life, and to do as much as possible to improve their health and quality of life.

Bhutan

Mainline recently researched the situation of drug users in Thimpu, the main capital of Bhutan. We gave several short training to a variety of organisations that work with drug users.

EU activities

We participate in the European collaboration project Correlation II - European Network Social Inclusion & Health...

Indonesia

Since the beginning of 2006 Mainline has supported the local organisation LARAS which works in the areas of Bontang and Samarinda. In addition to HIV prevention, the work focuses on providing care for sex works, drug users and HIV-infected users.