Scaling up methadone maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent prisoners in Iran

Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, including acquisition of blood-borne infections. In response, several prevention interventions including methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have been introduced into prisons in Iran.

This report reviews and presents some important information extracted from published articles, and available documents on HIV sentinel surveillance and provision of MMT inside correctional settings in Iran.

Biological surveillance data in 2005 showed that on average about 3% of prisoners in the country tested positive for HIV infection. MTT that constitutes a main component of the Prison Organisation's HIV prevention package is becoming increasingly accessible to opioid-dependent prisoners. Between 2002 and 2008, the number of opioid-dependent prisoners receiving MMT increased steadily from 100 to more than 25000.

Experiences in Iran suggest that access to MMT would be helpful for reducing illicit drug injection in a prison setting and can be considered as a major intervention for preventing the transmission of blood-borne infections among prisoners.