Today Ukrainian society is facing such a severe problem as non-medical drug abuse spreading at exceptionally high rates. Given that there is no universal means by which this negative phenomenon can be overcome, there is a need to elaborate and use more and more new methods to treat drug addicts. This task becomes even a tougher challenge when it comes to convicted persons, particularly those detained in prison.

The purpose of the article is to explore whether it is possible, even at the present stage of reforms of the Ukrainian criminal executive system, to introduce substitution maintenance therapy in detention facilities for all drug addicts in need who are kept in relevant facilities, and to determine the efficiency which this therapy can have.

The article proves that introduction of the practice of substitution maintenance therapy should be considered through the prism of a convict’s right to receive medical care while serving his/her sentence. The author also makes an analysis of the factors hindering a further spread of the practice of this therapy not only with regard to those individuals in correctional facilities who serve their sentences, but also with regard to those with the status of detainees, accused, etc. who are kept in other so-called places of deprivation of liberty. Among these factors, the organizational, legal, material, ethical ones, etc. should be noted. Unavailability of substitution maintenance therapy in detention facilities is mostly explained by the vague procedure for its implementation at the level of departmental regulations, and in this connection the author emphasizes the need to accelerate the adoption of the Procedure for interaction of health care institutions, units and bodies of the National Police of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, pre-trial detention centers, penal facilities etc. with a view to implementing substitution maintenance therapy for prisoners with opioid dependence; the draft of this Procedure has already been developed and proposed to the public for discussion.

Based on the analysis of Ukrainian legislation and given that other countries have received fairly good results of drug addicts treatment with the use of substitution maintenance therapy programs, the author comes to the conclusion that, basically, there are no insurmountable obstacles to introduction of this therapy in detention facilities.

Bibliography

Authored books

1. Kuznecov M i Anan’ev O, Social’naya rabota s osuzhdennymi v IU: uchebnoe posobie [Social Work with Convicts in a Correctional Institution: Textbook] (Akademiya FSIN Rossii 2006) (in Russia).

Edited books

2. Natsionalnyi zvit za 2017 rik shchodo narkotychnoi sytuatsii v Ukraini (za danymy 2016 roku). Pohlyblenyi ohliad narkosytuatsii v Ukraini [National Report for 2017 on the Drug Situation in Ukraine (according to 2016). In-depth Review of the Drug Situation in Ukraine] (Derzhavna ustanova “Ukrainskyi monitorynhovyi tsentr z narkotykiv ta alkoholiu Ministerstva okhorony zdorovia” 2017) (in Ukrainian).

3. Praktychni aspekty provedennia media kompanii u sferi advokatsii proektiv zmenshennia shkody: posibnyk dlia uchasnykiv treninhu [Handbook for Participants of the Training “Practical Aspects of Media Companies in the Field of Advocacy of Harm Reduction Projects”] (Mizhnarodnyi fond “Vidrodzhennia” 2008) (in Ukrainian).

4. Prava liudyny v haluzi okhorony zdorovia – 2015-2016 (persha polovyna): dopovid pravozakhysnykh orhanizatsii [Human Rights in the Health Sector – 2015-2016 (First Half): Report of Human Rights Organizations] (Prava liudyny 2016) 108 (in Ukrainian).

5. Yakovets I, ‘Analiz isnuiuchykh normatyvno-pravovykh aktiv Ukrainy ta zarubizhnykh krain shchodo nadannia zamisnoi pidtrymuiuchoi terapii (ZPT) u mistsiakh nesvobody’ [Analysis of Existing Legal acts of Ukraine and Foreign Countries Regarding the Provision of Substitution Maintenance Therapy (RRT) in Places of Non-Freedom] v Arkhivni materialy Naukovo-doslidnoho instytutu vyvchennia problem zlochynnosti imeni akademika V. V. Stashysa NAPrN Ukrainy za 2015-2016 rr. [Archival Materials of the Research Institute for the Study of Crime Problems Named after Academician V V Stashys of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine for 2015-2016] (NDI VPZ im akad V V Stashysa naprn NAPrN Ukrainy 2016) (in Ukrainian).

6. Zamіsna terapіia: analіtychnyi ohlyad [Substitution Therapy: Analytical Review] (MBF Mіzhnarodnij Al’yans z VІL/SNІD v Ukrainy 2005) (in Ukrainian).

Journal articles

7. Azbel L and others, ‘Burden of infectious diseases, substance use disorders, and mental illness among Ukrainian prisoners transitioning to the community’ (2013) 8/3 PloS One 1-9 (in English).

8. Avtuhov K ta Bajlov A ‘Zamisna pidtrymuiucha terapiia v mistsiakh nesvobody: mizhnarodnyi dosvid’ [Substitution Supportive Therapy in Places of Imprisonment: International Experience] [2016] 2(13) Visnyk Kryminolohichnoi asotsiatsii Ukrainy 173-83 (in Ukrainian).

9. Batyrgareieva V, ‘Shchodo mozhlyvostі zaprovadzhennia zamіsnoi pіdtrymuval’noi terapіi u mistsiakh pozbavlennia volі’ [‘About Possibility of Introduction of Substitution therapy in places of Imprisonment’] (2016) 32 Pytannia borot’by zі zlochynnіstiu 50-68 (in Ukrainian).

Newspaper articles

10. ‘Timoshchuk O, ‘Uzakonenyi narkotyk, abo Ukrainski realii metadonovoi prohramy’ [‘Legalizations of Drugs, or Ukrainian Realities of Methadone Programs’] [2011] 49(858) Yurydychnyi visnyk Ukrainy 10-6 grudnya (in Ukrainian).

Websites

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13. Filibek U i Sternieri Е i Yakobs Е de, ‘Metodicheskoe rukovodstvo po profilaktike i farmakologicheskomu lecheniyu geroinovoj zavisimosti’ [‘Guidance on the Prevention and Pharmacological Treatment of Heroin Addiction’] (Min-vo zdravoohraneniya Italii, 1995) <http://psycho.chat.ru/Method.txt> (accessed: 15.05.2019) (in Russia).

14. ‘Metadonovaya terapiya kak sposob izbavleniya ot geroinovoj zavisimosti’ [‘Methadone Therapy as a Way to Get Rid of Heroin Addiction’] <http://gidmed.com/narkologiya/ narkomaniya/metadonovaja-terapija.html> (accessed: 15.05.2019) (in Russian).

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