United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Central America and the Caribbean

Visit to evaluate progress of pilot project "Assisted medical treatment of opioid (heroin) users in the Dominican Republic"

Dominican Republic, 29 July 2019. The Commission of the Center for Research and Sociomedical Evaluation (CIES) of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) made a visit to the National Drug Council of the Dominican Republic and other entities linked to the Pilot Project "Assisted medical treatment for opioid (heroin) users in the Dominican Republic", designed by the United Nations Office for Central America and the Caribbean against Drugs and Crime.

The NDC and the UPR have collaborated in public health research, training, and advocacy to address, in accordance with scientific evidence and respect for human rights, the care needs of people suffering from opioid use disorders.

The main objective of this visit was to present and discuss the findings and recommendations with related institutions in the design of processes leading to the evaluation of the buprenorphine-naloxone treatment pilot program in the Dominican Republic.

During the meeting, Dr. Guerrero Peralta applauded the initiative and reaffirmed the support of the Institution he directs in order to continue strengthening the programs that offer a service of attention to the most vulnerable populations.

The Commission was formed by Dr. Carmen Albizu-García MD, Principal Investigator of the evaluation of the pilot program in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Glorimar Caraballo Correa and project consultants Dr. Salvador Santiago Negron and Dr. Ángel González Carrasquillo.

The pilot project "Assisted medical treatment of opioid (heroin) users in the Dominican Republic" was carried out at the Center for Comprehensive Care of Dependencies (CAIDEP), in coordination with the National Drug Council of the Dominican Republic, UNODC ROPAN, UNAIDS Dominican Republic, CONAVIHSIDA, the General Directorate for Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS, the Center for Comprehensive Orientation and Research, Mesón de Dios and Fundación Volver.