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Program of International Research and Training (PIRT)

image - PIRT
Date Commenced:
03/2003
Expected Date of Completion:
Ongoing
Project Supporters:

UNODC Vietnam, UNODC Myanmar, UNODC Head Office

Project Members: 
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Adjunct Professor
Ph 02 9385 0333
image - Michael Farrell 0
Director
Ph EA Tori Barnes: 02 9385 0292 / t.barnes@unsw.edu.au
image - Zahra Alammehrjerdi
Mrs Zahra Alammehrjerdi
Research Assistant
Project Main Description: 

To facilitate research and training to minimise the harms from drug use and to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment internationally.

Project Collaborators: External: 

Dr Alex Wodak (Alcohol and Drug Services, St. Vincent’s Hospital)

Ms Robyn Hopkins (Consultant)

Mr Babak Moazen (PhD Student, Germany)

Design and Method: 
  • Build capacity into research in drug treatment within developing countries
  • Build capacity for monitoring drug use and drug problems in developing countries
  • Build alliances between Australia and developing countries in terms of understanding drug trends and law enforcement
  • Encourage policy relevant research consistent with national strategies and cultures.
Progress/Update: 

PIRT has undertaken a review of HIV in prisons for the UNODC and contributed to a special issue of JAIDS on female sex workers and female prisoners. 

Output: 

2014: Report on HIV in prisons, conference presentations, journal articles. 

2013: Report on HIV in prisons for the UNODC.

2012: PIRT staff assisted with papers in Acta Medica Iranica and Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. Dr Dolan made presentations at the 6th HAARP Consultation and Coordination Forum in Cambodia and UNSW’s Global Health Conference. She continued her membership of the Australian National Council on Drugs’ Committee on Asia Pacific Drug Issues. Finally, PIRT produced ‘STOP AIDS IN PRISON: A peer educational health training manual for staff and inmates in Vietnam’.

2011: Peer reviewed papers and presentations at conferences in Sydney, Washington, Taiwan and Arizona. PIRT staff authored a policy document entitled 'Advancing the sexual and reproductive health and human rights of prisoners living with HIV'. PIRT has published three journal articles on our women’s clinic in Iran. Dr Dolan travelled to Iran to present results of the women’s clinic at an international conference on reproductive health in Iran in February.

2016: International Narcotics Control Board, 116th session.

Publications

Dolan, K. A situational assessment of health related services in the prison setting in Liberia, Population Services International, Sydney, 2017

Kate Dolan, Andrea L Wirtz, Babak Moazen, Martial Ndeff o-mbah, Alison Galvani, Stuart A Kinner, Ryan Courtney, Martin McKee, Joseph J Amon, Lisa Maher, Margaret Hellard, Chris Beyrer, Fredrick L Altice; Global burden of HIV, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis in prisoners and detaineesThe Lancet; 2016

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Stewart E Reid, Amee Schwitters, Lucas Wiessing,Nabila El-Bassel, Kate Dolan, Babak Moazen, Andrea L Wirtz, Annette Verster, Frederick L Altice; Prevention of transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in prisonersThe Lancet; 2016

Leonard S Rubenstein, Joseph J Amon, Megan McLemore, Patrick Eba, Kate Dolan, Rick Lines, Chris Beyrer; HIV, prisoners, and human rightsThe Lancet; 2016

Frederick L Altice, Lyuba Azbel, Jack Stone, Ellen Brooks-Pollock, Pavlo Smyrnov, Sergii Dvoriak, Faye S Taxman, Nabila El-Bassel, Natasha K Martin, Robert Booth, Heino StÖver, Kate Dolan, Peter Vickerman; The perfect storm: incarceration and the high-risk environment perpetuating transmission of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia; The Lancet; 2016

Dolan, K; Prisons need better drug treatment programs to control infectious diseasesThe Conversation; 2016

Shahbazi, M. Moazen, B. Rezaei, F. Shokoohi, M. Farnia, M. Moradi, G & Dolan, K. Views of Iranian prison staff towards needle exchange program in prison, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 2016.

Alam-mehrjerdi, Z.  Daneshmand, R. Samiei, M. Samadi, R. Abdollahi, M Dolan, K. Women-only drug treatment services and needs in Iran: the first review of current literatureDARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016;24:3.

Dolan, K. Worth, H. & Wilson, D. Compulsory Treatment of Drug Users in Asia: Designed To Torture? International Journal of Prisoner Health, 2015;11(4):255-268.

Alam-Mehrjerdi Z, Mokri A, Dolan K. Methamphetamine use and treatment in Iran: A systematic review from the most populated Persian Gulf country. 2015 May 28. Asian J Psychiatr. pii: S1876-2018(15)00111-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.05.036.

Strathdee, S. West, B. Reed, E. Moazan, B. Azim, T & Dolan, K. Substance use and HIV among female sex workers and female prisoners: Risk environments and implications for prevention, treatment and policies. JAIDS, 2015;69:S110–S117.

Iversen, J. Dolan, K. Ezard, N. and Maher, L. Women who inject drugs: HIV and hepatitis C infection and risk behaviour among heterosexual, bisexual and lesbian women in Australia, 2004 to 2013, LGBT Health, 2015;2(2):1-8. DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2014.0116.

Dolan, K & Rodas, A. Bode, A. Drug and alcohol use and treatment for Australian Indigenous and non-indigenous prisoners: Demand reduction strategiesInternational Journal on Prisoner Health, 2015;1(1):30-38.

Dolan, K., Moazen, B., Noori, A., Rahimzadeh, S., Farzadfar, F., & Hariga, F. People who inject drugs in prison: HIV prevalence, transmission and prevention. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2015;26:S12-S15.

Alam-mehrjerdi, Z., Noori, R., Dolan, K. Opioid use, treatment and harm reduction services: the first report from the Persian Gulf region. Journal of Substance Use, Advance online publication, 2014;10:1-7.

Project Research Area: 
Project Status: 
Current