Primary Healthcare Partnerships

What We Do › Substance Abuse & Dependence › Primary Healthcare Partnerships

Through a network of more than 30 primary healthcare partnerships in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, AIHA has helped establish some 70 primary care, family medicine, and women’s wellness centers that provide comprehensive, high-quality clinical care to thousands of people each year.

The problems stemming from substance abuse and addiction are indicative of the undeniable link between mental and physical health, and have far-reaching effects that are felt throughout all levels of society. The use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive substances contributes to social problems ranging from violence and crime to homelessness. In terms of physical well-being, WHO reports estimate that drug injection alone is responsible for as many as 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. As use rates increase, so too do prostitution, violence, and the risk of spreading blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.

Another serious problem—especially in developing countries and among marginalized populations such as street children—is the use of volatile solvents and other inhalants. These readily available substances including glue, paint thinner, petrol, and aerosol sprays can cause neurological problems, liver and kidney damage, and death.

Because these behaviors have a profound impact on communities, solutions must, in turn, seek to engage those communities if they are to be effective and sustainable. By involving a broad range of invested groups and organizations, community-based programs have the greatest chance for success. AIHA partnerships—especially those focusing on primary healthcare, whether in newly-established family medicine centers or Women’s Wellness Centers—are particularly well-suited to programs and services that address substance abuse treatment and prevention, as well as a host of other healthy lifestyle issues.

Optimally, programs seeking to educate the public and empower them to take ownership of their own health should draw from many community-based groups including local government agencies, healthcare workers, social services agencies, schools, religious institutions, and business, as well as youth groups, parents, families, and other interested parties. The media can also be a strong tool for increasing the reach of messages about healthy choices to target populations.

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