Center for substitution therapy remains in Nahorevo, patients' rights are paramount, no security risk

(Patria) - Minister of Health of KS Enis Hasanović and Director of the Institute for Addiction Diseases of KS Rasema Okić held a press conference today after seven weeks of a smear campaign against users of the Center for Opioid Substitution Therapy (Methadone Center) which, after relocating to Bolnička Street, had to be closed by order of the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs. The Center has been moved to the building of the Institute for Addiction Diseases of KS in Nahorevo, where it can legally remain.

Minister Hasanović emphasized that persons undergoing addiction treatment are also members of our society, patients who have special rights under international conventions, as well as domestic legislation.

"A scare and pressure campaign occurred against a small group of patients. There is a much larger problem with other types of drugs and users who are not included in treatment programs, and methadone therapy is used for users who have emerged from the war with trauma, PTSD, or heroin addiction. It is counterproductive to label them. These people have decided to seek treatment, receive therapy, undergo testing, and they are not positive for narcotics," said Hasanović.

Given the increased media coverage, the minister stated that photographs were published that did not correspond to the truth.

"There was an organized campaign against people undergoing treatment. For two days, the padlock was on, people could not receive treatment, but we did not want to engage in public arguments. A security camera recorded a person coming, taking syringes out of their pocket, throwing needles, taking a picture, and then posting it to that group, which is tragic. That person has been identified and works in one of the administrative structures," the minister pointed out.

Hasanović noted that such a center exists in a residential building in Mostar, and no one has ever staged a protest.

"We have a security assessment that there was no risk from these patients. Special transportation has been organized, separate from other citizens. They have transportation every hour, there are no security concerns or other problems. They must go there, they have treatments, and other addicts go there too," he said.

He particularly emphasized that the number of minors going to the addiction treatment center has dramatically increased and that stigmatization benefits no one, especially since the privacy of patients is now being violated by photographing the gate and building of the Institute.

Director of the Institute for Addiction Diseases of KS, Rasema Okić, said that they have faced a very ugly campaign against patients with certain difficulties.

"This is a particularly vulnerable category of patients. The primary goal is always to protect the patient and provide therapy. It is a small number of patients remaining from the post-war period when there was a huge expansion of heroin addicts because heroin dominated the addiction scene in the 90s and 2000s. Among them were a massive number of vulnerable categories, fighters of the Army of RBiH, members of martyr families, young people. We have no problems with our patients. 90 percent of them are stable, they work. Our patients have found employment in public services. It is common in the public to talk about the methadone center and that they are the dregs of society. That is not empathetic and not ethical," the director stated.

Hasanović said this is not a political issue.

"This is not about the Ministry deciding where someone will be located. The Institute has all the necessary documents based on which they act. We have absolute communication. We deliberately refused to enter into public discussion. The entire society cannot discuss patients' rights. We want people to enter the system, not to drive them out of the system," said Hasanović.

He added that decentralization of substitution therapy is not possible because only the Institute has the capacity to provide substitution therapy.