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Peer education on drug prevention: a new approach for building safer prison environments

For the first time in Armenian penitentiary, peer education on drug prevention was introduced through a tailored Training of Trainers programme for inmates, focusing on harm reduction and rehabilitation, held on 25-27 May in "Armavir" penitentiary institution.  

Ten inmates from "Nubarashen" and "Armavir" penitentiary institutions become the very first peer educators in their respective facilities and in Armenia. They will now be able to support awareness-raising among other inmates on the risks related to drug use, available support services and safer health-related choices in custodial settings.

In line with the priorities of the Armenian National Drug Prevention Strategy, the initiative contributes to broader efforts to promote a health-oriented and rights-based approach to substance use in prisons. It also supports improved access to voluntary treatment, psychosocial support and rehabilitation services.  

Peer education can play an important role in prison environments, where stigma, limited access to specialised psychosocial services, and informal prison subcultures may prevent inmates from seeking help.  By relying on trusted communication within inmate communities, while maintaining ethical boundaries and institutional neutrality, peer education serves as a vital complement to formal rehabilitative and health services in prisons.

During the three-day training, participants developed practical competencies in key areas, including drug risk awareness, harm reduction principles, overdose recognition and response, prevention of HIV and hepatitis transmission in custodial conditions, trauma-informed communication, motivational communication techniques, confidentiality, and safe referral to professional services.

The training also created a structured and psychologically safe learning environment within the penitentiary institution. Designed as a temporary “health and learning zone”, the space allowed participants to engage deeply and safely with sensitive topics in a setting separated from punitive dynamics and focused on learning, trust and responsibility.  

Following the training, a supervision and support mechanism has been put in place to ensure that peer-led activities are implemented safely, sustainably and in line with professional standards.

This activity was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Further strengthening the protection of the rights of persons in detention” which supports national authorities to further enhance penitentiary reform, prison health care and the protection of human rights of persons deprived of liberty. The Project is financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 and implemented by the Council of Europe. 

 

ARMAVIR 25-27 MAY, 2026
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