Irish Company Helping To Reduce Drug Harms In Ukrainian Jails

As a journalist, I have advocated for progressive drug policy reform by challenging stigma and emphasising the connections between drug use, mental health, and social justice. I support harm reduction strategies like supervised injecting facilities and needle exchange programmes, which can save lives and help individuals manage their drug use. So, I was fascinated to read Oleksii Zagrebelnyi and Tony Duffin’s article for Hot Press about a groundbreaking Needle and Syringe Programme that has been introduced in Odessa Correctional Colony No.14 in Ukraine. I was wondering if there were any further developments and with my natural journalistic inquisitiveness – I found out that an Irish company, One-Use, is supporting the Ukrainian NGO Free Zone…

One-Use, led by Michael Considine, is donating harm reduction equipment to Free Zone, which is led by Oleksii Zagrebelnyi. Currently, Free Zone has basic harm reduction supplies like needles, syringes, and alcohol wipes, but One-Use offers a wide range of products designed to reduce drug-related harms. This initiative aims to enhance Free Zone’s capabilities in their peer-to-peer program, which helps people in prison who inject drugs stay safe.

Ukraine has faced serious public health challenges for many years, particularly around HIV and Hepatitis C, which are often spread through unsafe drug use. The situation is compounded by the war, which has made it harder for vulnerable people to access necessary health services. Free Zone is doing important work to provide harm reduction services during these difficult times, but they lack many of the items found in Needle & Syringe Programmes in other jurisdictions — equipment that can effectively reduce direct and indirect sharing of supplies, which in turn further reduces the spread of blood-borne viruses.

One-Use is stepping up to help. They are donating a variety of harm reduction equipment to Free Zone. Samples will be sent first for trial, and based on feedback from Free Zone, more specific equipment will be provided to meet the needs of people in prison in Ukraine.

Free Zone has been doing incredible work, even under the most challenging circumstances, specifically their harm reduction efforts in Ukrainian prisons. In their article for Hot Press, Oleksii and Tony detailed how Free Zone was providing vital services for prisoners, helping reduce the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. Their work in a war-torn country, with limited resources, has been nothing short of heroic. They’ve demonstrated that even in times of war, it is crucial to maintain harm reduction services.

Ukraine’s prisons, like others around the world, are high-risk environments for infectious diseases. Free Zone’s work focuses on the people most affected – those who are incarcerated and often forgotten. By providing sterile needles, educating inmates, and supporting their health needs, Free Zone is giving these individuals a chance to protect themselves and their communities. This work is deeply aligned with the core principles of harm reduction that I've spent my career advocating for.

One-Use is showing what’s possible when a company steps up to help people in a meaningful way by providing Free Zone with essential equipment to protect public health and save lives. They are also using their significant expertise in global supply chain management to ensure that the equipment arrives safely, on time, and with no import taxes or other unexpected delivery charges to Free Zone.

Free Zone runs a peer-to-peer programme in prisons, which means that people who have used drugs themselves are trained to help others in their community. They hand out sterile harm reduction equipment, teach safer drug use practices, and offer support. This approach works because it builds trust — people are likely to listen to someone who has been through similar experiences. With One-Use’s help, Free Zone can now provide these peer workers with other types of harm reduction equipment, expanding what their service can offer to keep people as safe as possible.

Harm reduction policies and programs are increasingly being adopted worldwide as evidence shows their effectiveness in reducing the harms associated with drug use. Drug use is a global problem that requires joined-up thinking and strategic partnerships. Partnerships like the one between One-Use and Free Zone show how businesses and organisations can come together across borders and make a difference.

This isn’t just about reducing harm in Ukraine. It’s about setting an example for how we can support harm reduction efforts everywhere. One-Use and Free Zone are proving that by working together, we can help people stay even safer, no matter where they are.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the complex issues surrounding drug use. But partnerships like this give us hope. One-Use’s partnership with Free Zone has the potential to improve health outcomes, foster trust and meaningful change.

However, we must also recognise the glaring gap in harm reduction services within prisons globally. Many people enter prison as punishment for their actions, not to face further punishment in the form of inadequate healthcare. The lack of needle on these issues through initiatives like the One-Use and Free Zone partnership, we can raise awareness of the risks faced by people in prison who use drugs.

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Michael Considine is the CEO of One-Use Harm Reduction Products, a company providing innovative and cost-effective supplies to outreach services and needle exchange programs globally. Drawing on a strong background in medical device development and supply, One-Use designs its products in collaboration with healthcare professionals in the drug treatment sector. The company's ethos is centered on delivering safe and easy-to-use products to vulnerable populations, helping prevent the spread of highly infectious diseases.

An expert by lived experience, Oleksiy Zagrebelnyi is the Head of the FREE ZONE; an NGO founded by a community of prisoners and ex-prisoners, which aims to provide high-quality medical care and essential services in prisons, aligning with global standards. Their work is guided by a zero-tolerance policy on human rights violations and stigma against prisoners and ex-prisoners. Members have extensive experience collaborating with Ukrainian correctional institutions, the Ministry of Justice, and other stakeholders to reform the penal system.