Middle East and North Africa - Harm Reduction Programmes

Key harm reduction interventions (including needle and syringe exchange and opioid substitution therapy) are available in some countries in this region, as illustrated in the maps and table below. Even where services exist, coverage remains insufficient and repressive legal and policy frameworks present a substantial barrier to effective harm reduction implementation exist in this region.

Prison-based needle and syringe exchange and opioid substitution therapy are currently only available in Iran.

The following table indicates which countries have a) one or more needle and syringe exchange sites operational both in and outside prisons, b) prescription of opioid substitution therapy for maintenance in and outside of prisons c) one or more drug consumption rooms in countries of the region.

A Y in this table does not indicate the scope, quality or coverage of services. Also it should be noted that in some countries, harm reduction services, NSP in particular, are NGO-driven and may be operating without government support.

The map below shows which countries have operational needle and syringe programmes and opioid substitution therapy programmes within and outside prisons.

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