- Lead awareness-raising and capacity building activities on stigma and discrimination with the civil society networks working on the issue of migrant workers, people living with HIV, substance use, and other marginalized groups. Supervise the project on the human rights monitoring mechanism to eradicate stigma and discrimination in Thai society.

Background
In Thailand, stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs (PWUD) significantly hinder their access to essential healthcare services, including HIV and HCV testing and treatment. Internalized stigma is prevalent among PWUD and negatively impacts their healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Description
The Foundation for AIDS Rights (FAR) and the Thai Drug Users Network (TDN) partnered to develop a community-led intervention addressing internalized stigma among PWUD in Northern and Southern Thailand. This process began with four focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 46 PWUD from six Harm Reduction Centers, which informed the intervention's design. The training curriculum for peer educators was based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and aimed to achieve the following:

1. **Acceptance of Self**: Understanding cravings and addiction, and recognizing internalized stigma.
2. **Linking Internalized Stigma to Self-Values**: Developing mindfulness and distancing from negative thoughts.
3. **Goal Setting and Commitment Pathways**: Encouraging PWUD to set and pursue personal goals.

Lessons Learned
Twenty-four PWUD peers, who had completed basic counseling training, were selected to implement the intervention. In the initial three months, they conducted internalized stigma screenings for 96 community members. Of those screened, 32 exhibited significant internalized stigma (score ≥ 16), with 5 scoring highly (≥ 20). After one month of intervention, 12 participants reported improved mental health, and 2 set positive goals related to family relationships and healthcare access.

Conclusions/Next Steps
This initiative successfully empowered PWUD peers to lead interventions aimed at reducing internalized stigma. The program is being integrated into the standard care at Harm Reduction Centers. The next steps include advocating for policy changes with the National Health Security Office to secure financial support for these community-led interventions under Thailand’s universal health coverage.