Harm Reduction Projects in Romania

"The “SECOND CHANCE” Project, co-financed by the European Social Fund through the Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2007 - 2013, "Investing in People" is implemented by ARAS in partnership with the Integration and Sens Pozitiv Associations, as well as with the National Institute for Infectious Disease' Prof. Dr. Matei Bals', from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013. The project provides harm reduction services and substitution treatment, but its ultimate goal is to facilitate the employment for drug users in Bucharest, Ilfov, Timi?oara and Constan?a, for a total of 3 500 beneficiaries, with a budget of 20 812 555 lei 142. In 2011, a part of this project involved services of sterile syringe distribution and used syringe recovery and provision of methadone substitution treatment:
"• The Harm reduction centres for drug users provide free and confidential services of: syringe exchange, HIV/HBV/HCV voluntary counselling and testing, HAV and HBV vaccination, support, information and education, counselling in harm reduction, notifications to other services.
"• Outreach services consist of: informing and educating beneficiaries on HIV/AIDS/other STDs, testing procedures, meaning of HIV test, universal rules of safety and hygiene, information and counselling on the injecting drug use-related risks, condom distribution, syringe exchange and distribution of other sterile injection equipment; notification to HIV voluntary counselling and testing centres, notifications to specialised medical detoxification facilities, substitution or post-treatment, distribution of informative materials."