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Description
The quality of life of the target vulnerable group, people with drug addiction, associated with legislations that are not adapted to modern guidelines, with health and social care system and with the overall stigmatizing social order, includes chronic mental and physical health problems, rehabilitation and resocialization. The treatment system is not concerned about an addicts wellbeing after he/she switches to drug substitution, and general practitioners are not always consistent with the drugs they prescribe (for therapeutic substitution). The aim is to research the quality of life of addicts, from the point of view of active and treated addicts (500), throughout Croatia, focusing on motivation to stop using drugs, recovery and resocialization. The result would be an evidence-based approach to the influence of civil society organizations (CSOs) on the development of better regulations and the quality of life of addicts through the inventive method of public advocacy. CAHIV, as the project applicant, will carry out each phase of the project with the experts we provide. We will build an informal network of sectoral CSOs to cover deprived areas of Croatia as well as possible and gain access to the target population. We will present the results of the research to the Office for Combating Drug Abuse (HZJZ) with which we will approach the Ministry of Health (Ministry) to point out the shortcomings of the system and the need to include the recovery system in future tenders conducted by the Ministry and to urgently adopt the National Drug Strategy which has not been adopted since 2017.
Summary of project results
A major problem is the re-socialization of addicts and support after completing therapy. The evaluation of the National Drug Control Strategy has identified limited availability of harm reduction activities, the need for more flexible treatment and counseling methods, unwanted consequences of substitution treatment programs, the need for a more effective focus on prevention, youth education, and empowerment, as well as policy coordination between the Commission for Drug Control, Services, and Counties.
Civil society''s advocacy/watchdog role has been strengthened. We conducted research in support of policy advocacy, with a sample of 273 association users and residents of therapeutic communities. Through evidence-based advocacy initiatives, we highlighted the key and clear needs and challenges of the target group, which we presented to the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the expert-scientific community, and the public. We also emphasized the extent to which the national healthcare and social policy system relies on civil society organizations addressing the target group. Data collected showed that the target group has a high level of trust in civil society, and the quality of services provided by the association.
Supported the establishment of networks and coalitions. We established an informal network of sectoral NGOs (Network) aimed at strengthening the advocacy role of civil society organizations focused on healthcare and empowering vulnerable groups. The network consists of 9 NGOs, including HUHIV.
Promoted international human rights standards. We highlighted the key and clear needs and challenges of the target group, offering several important recommendations to improve recovery and resocialization programs.
Supported inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral collaboration and synergy. We established high-quality two-way communication between decision-makers and key stakeholders from civil society in the field of addiction prevention, through relationships we established with the Ministry of Health and the Croatian Institute of Public Health. Additionally, we initially connected Network members with the Croatian Institute of Public Health and introduced young future healthcare professionals to NGOs focused on working with the target group and the work of the Drug Abuse Prevention Service.
A high-quality two-way communication has been established between decision-makers and key stakeholders in the civil sector in the field of addiction prevention. A high-quality two-way communication has been established between decision-makers and key stakeholders from the civil sector in the field of addiction prevention, facilitated through the relationships we have built with the Ministry of Health and the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ).
An evidence-based advocacy initiative has been carried out to include the recovery system in future funding competitions with the Ministry of Health and for the urgent adoption of a National Drug Control Strategy. By implementing an evidence-based advocacy initiative, grounded in the research we conducted as part of the project, we have highlighted the key and clear needs and challenges of the target group. During the roundtable discussion, it was evident how much the system relies on associations that implement resocialization and harm reduction programs.
Enhanced the influence of NGOs in improving the quality of life for current and treated addicts, as well as youth at risk of addiction.
In addition to presenting our NGO''s work to the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the Ministry of Health, we also showcased the project and its results at the 9th Scientific and Professional Conference ''Empowering Potential for Community Prevention Activities.'' This conference is organized by the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek, in cooperation with the Association of Psychologists Osijek, the Croatian Psychological Society, and the Croatian Psychological Chamber.
An informal network of sectoral NGOs (Network) has been established with the aim of strengthening the advocacy role of civil society organizations focused on healthcare and empowering vulnerable groups.