Theme: Models of Care Year: 2024
Background: Greece has made significant strides in addressing addiction through a comprehensive, people-centered, and holistic approach, emphasizing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and social reintegration. Access to services is the main implementation factor. Public health policies have been tailored to tackle the numerous challenges encountered by individuals with addiction, encompassing the prevention and treatment of contagious diseases like HIV and HCV, averting overdose cases, providing access to treatment with no exclusions, tackling homelessness, and promoting social reintegration. These initiatives have positioned Greece as a leader in the field of addictions, earning praise from numerous EU countries for its best practices.
Description of model of care/intervention/program: Interventions are tailored to meet the diverse needs of patients, resulting in tangible progress and positive outcomes. Key initiatives include establishing the first Drug Consumption Room (DCR) in Southeast Europe, Mobile DCRs to reach remote areas, Day centers and Hostels, and the Toxification and Overdoses’ Reference Center. Additionally, the expansion of Naloxone use and the introduction of drug-checking machines to prevent overdose cases further underscore Greece’s commitment to comprehensive care.
Effectiveness: The implementation of these programs, has generated evidence-based data supporting the overall effectiveness of policies, enhancing patient treatment and safeguarding public health. Data demonstrate lives saved through Naloxone use, overdose prevention in DCRs, collaboration with the EMCDDA’s ESCAPE project to monitor new substances, successful HCV therapy outcomes, and the provision of essential services such as meeting basic needs, offering primary healthcare services, and facilitating social reintegration.
Conclusion and next steps: Greece’s holistic approach, grounded in robust public health policies and people-centered interventions, yields promising results. Future efforts will focus on further enhancing harm reduction, treatment, and social reintegration. By prioritizing public health and innovative strategies, Greece is positioned to sustain progress in promoting the well-being of all the patients’ facing addictions.