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<p>Why does a regime that is predominantly characterised by conservative ideology introduce opioid substitution therapy (OST), a liberal policy? This article applies the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to examine the introduction of OST in Belarus. Methodologically, the research draws on qualitative content analysis of drug policy documents and reports as well as on interviews. Results show how an increased HIV prevalence among injecting drug users opened a policy window in the problem stream. The increase in HIV cases could be used by a network of global and local policy entrepreneurs to frame OST as a public health policy instead of a drug policy measure. Findings suggest that, in nondemocratic regimes, global policy entrepreneurs can play a dominant role in introducing new policy ideas. However, the sustainability of the policy change remains questionable when acquiescence by key policymakers is lacking.</p>
</abstract>

Why does a regime that is predominantly characterised by conservative ideology introduce opioid substitution therapy (OST), a liberal policy? This article applies the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to examine the introduction of OST in Belarus. Methodologically, the research draws on qualitative content analysis of drug policy documents and reports as well as on interviews. Results show how an increased HIV prevalence among injecting drug users opened a policy window in the problem stream. The increase in HIV cases could be used by a network of global and local policy entrepreneurs to frame OST as a public health policy instead of a drug policy measure. Findings suggest that, in nondemocratic regimes, global policy entrepreneurs can play a dominant role in introducing new policy ideas. However, the sustainability of the policy change remains questionable when acquiescence by key policymakers is lacking.

A policy window and a network of global and local policy entrepreneurs: The introduction of opioid substitution therapy in Belarus

Central European Journal of Public Policy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Why does a regime that is predominantly characterised by conservative ideology introduce opioid substitution therapy (OST), a liberal policy? This article...

A policy window and a network of global and local policy entrepreneurs: The introduction of opioid substitution therapy in Belarus

Published Online: Sep 02, 2021

Page range: 1 - 13

Received: Feb 28, 2020

Accepted: Jan 23, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cejpp-2021-0008

Keywords
Drug Policy, Opioid Substitution Therapy, Belarus, Multiple Streams Framework

© 2021 Ararat Babayan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

A policy window and a network of global and local policy entrepreneurs: The introduction of opioid substitution therapy in Belarus

Published Online: Sep 02, 2021

Page range: 1 - 13

Received: Feb 28, 2020

Accepted: Jan 23, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cejpp-2021-0008

KeywordsDrug Policy, Opioid Substitution Therapy, Belarus, Multiple Streams Framework

© 2021 Ararat Babayan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Drug Policy, Opioid Substitution Therapy, Belarus, Multiple Streams Framework