ARIA

(Addiction/AIDS and Intervention Association)
Tehran, Iran

The Association for Addiction and AIDS Research and Intervention, ARIA was established in 2004 in Iran. Today ARIA has expanded its service with 37 Staff members and some 150 Volunteers to four clinics in Tehran providing harm reduction and care for people who use drugs.
ARIA provides Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in Tehran as well as Needles and Syringe Exchange through its centres and outreach activities.

ARIA implements Outreach Services to homeless drug users on the streets of Tehran providing people with clean injecting equipment, first aid care where and when needed and referrals either to it own Drop-in Centre or other institutions depending on the need of the individual.
ARIA is active in building capacity through specific training of NGOs' staff on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and HCV, which is recognised by the local authorities and the medical sector.

ARIA cooperates with other NGOs especially Congress 60 where individuals are referred to if they desire to exit drug use.
ARIA has a leading position in Iran as far as HIV and HCV prevention is concerned and members of ARIA have been key in the development of harm reduction services in Iranian prisons.

One of the major social challenges faced by Iran is the high prevalence of illegal drug abuse and trafficking, which afflicts heavily the poorest groups in society. Using opium has a very long history in Iran: first reports go back to the 17th century, but there are causes for alarm with the increased consumption of heroin and with poly drug use. National AIDS experts in Iran have estimated there are up to 3.3 million drug addicts. Many of them inject drugs and tend to share needles, therefore being at risk of being affected by HIV/AIDS and other drug related blood born infections. Detection rates of HIV infection and of AIDS cases have begun to rise much faster in the last years.