I’m HIV-positive women’s rights activist with experience of substance use, co-founder of Narcofeminist movement in EECA and a lead author of community-led research exploring gender inequality, SRHR, GBV, human rights, HIV criminalization. I co-authored various shadow reports on the situation of women who use drugs submitted to the CEDAW

Community-led assessment on unmet needs of people who use synthetic and new psychoactive substances (SNPS) in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan was conducted by the Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS (EWNA) in partnership with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) and local community leaders.
Study participants reported difficulties in maintaining social skills and connections, and the inability to maintain social life (planning, working, studying, doing household chores, going to the store, communicating with friends). This is usually caused by mental health issues resulting from substance use. People avoid communication and prefer to be alone, which complicates the process of asking for help, the possibility of providing and accepting it. Some respondents, in order to hide their drugs use from their relatives, leave home, sometimes for several days, and just spend their nights in the entrance of their houses.
The vast majority of respondents reported that they had experienced psychosis, sleep disturbances, depression and suicidal thoughts. Study participants reported phobias associated with open windows – closing the windows so as not to go out the window. They experience a state of despair and hopelessness, a feeling of guilt and self-hatred. Professional help from a narcologist or psychiatrist is rarely sought in the cases of mental health issues. This condition is being awaited to go away on its own.
Opening spaces for people who use SNPS is recommended by most assessment participants with services offered: a place to spend time under the effects of substances; household services (washing clothes, taking a shower); temporary overnight stay; get professional help from psychologists/psychotherapists. Many women supported the idea of creating safe spaces for women, focusing on helping young women for whom family is not a source of support and who are afraid that their loved ones will find out about their substance use.