Work Package 5: Training workshops on harm reduction interventions in Vilnius, Lithuania
Local professionals from different low threshold services and institutions involved in harm reduction service provision were invited to attend 3 different workshops: (1) “Opioid Agonist Treatment”, (2) “Overdose Prevention”, and (3) “Other Harm Reduction interventions”.
The workshops were coordinated by Blanca Iciar Indave and Juan Hoyos from Ciber/ISCIII (Group 21 Ciber, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), and Dovilė Mačiulytė from Vilnius Center for Addictive Disorders. It aimed to build capacities among professionals and reduce stigma and discrimination in the provision of harm reduction services. All workshops were held by experts in the field working in drug treatment clinics, Addictology University programs or supervised drug consumption rooms of different European countries (Malta, Czech Republic and Spain). They shared their experience using a practical approach in order to promote dialogue. Facilitated discussions on the benefits and drawbacks of harm reduction were also held. These contributions helped interested participants plan for capacity building in their field.
The activities were well received and most of the attendees agreed that these workshops are relevance to develop effective harm reduction services in their country. Their impressions and evaluation will help the coordination team improve the next training workshop planned for Latvia in January 2018.