In this context, the National AIDS Control Program with the support of the council of Europe represented by  Med Net(Pompidou Group) and in collaboration with UNODC, UNAIDS and WHO organized a series of workshops on Opiate Substitution Therapy, a comprehensive approach. The objectives of these workshops were to highlight important aspects pertaining to addiction and OST, including drug to be used like Methadone and Buprenorphines, procedures and best-learnt practices and experiences by international experts.

The first workshop was held on March 20th and 21st. Dr. Mustapha Benslimane and Mr. Pierre Poloméni were present to share the international experiences pertaining to OST. This workshop was addressed to psychiatrists and physicians who are interested in providing OST services to IDV users. The main objective of this workshop was to introduce the concept of harm reduction in the fight against HIV/AIDS and STIs. Additionally, the workshop served as a forum to get insights on the Lebanese experience and to establish regulations to be used by the OST taskforce in setting the national guidelines.

The second workshop was held on April 3rd and 4th where Dr. Alain Morrel French psychiatrist expert in OST presented the French as well as the international experiences in the OST field. The workshop was addressed to health care providers (pharmacists, nurses, social workers, paramedics and counselors) who will be involved in providing OST services in the future. The main objective of the workshop was to introduce the major features of OST (Buprenorphine vs. Methadone), modes of delivery, inclusion criteria and major things to be considered when administering the treatment.
The workshop resulted with a set of best practices and recommendations to be adopted by service providers to ensure maximum efficiency and success of the treatment. These are a combination of input from service users and service providers, key informants, and the expert references.

The third and last workshop was held on May 5th and 6th with the participation of Mr. Mustapha Bin Suleiman and Dr Catherine Lambert who briefly explained the available drugs used in treatment and maintenance therapies. This seminar was addressed to the future OST service providers (medical and paramedical stuff) where the main aim was to train them on the standard operating procedures (SOP) in substitution therapy, stock management, storing, dispensing and monitoring.

A follow-up mission from WHO (Dr Nicolas Clerk and Dr Ambros Uchtenhagen) and UNODC (Dr. Monica Beg) came to Lebanon and visited all the essential stake holders for OST to later on draft a National guideline and policy document to be assessed and adopted for implantation by service providers.
The Task force in coordination with its essential partners i.e. Med Net and the UN agencies and under the umbrella of the MOH will continue its efforts to make the OST system in Lebanon a reality as soon as possible.