The presence of the police is invisible. Her guards President of the Republic they are, but as always without specifying the purpose. After all, it is others who guarantee its safety. Katerina Sakellaropoulou in her run with echelon OKANA in drug markets. Nikos and Andreas, the Organization’s special therapists, are at the forefront of street work groups. “These are the people who helped us contact the squares. People who understand the language of people who use psychoactive substances. People of trust. Those who can easily approach any place, even the most difficult places, where even the police hesitate,” says OKANA President, Athanasius Theoharis. They have earned trust and respect.

We are located at the intersection of Iasonos and Kerameikos streets, one of the gathering places for people who inject heroin. The OKANA van was parked in its usual place and the handout began. Users line up to receive a safe use kit, which includes an insulin syringe and filter, a small kettle, citric acid and water to dissolve the substance, a band-aid and an antiseptic wipe. And a condom. They know the time of her arrival street work group and they wait for her to speak to them. These are people who are either reluctant to go to psychosocial services or medical facilities or, more often than not, have tried over and over again to get addicted to drugs and failed. The ultimate goal of the group is, of course, to raise awareness and mobilize them to join the therapeutic structure, but until then, issues of safe use (600,000 syringes were distributed in 22), providing primary support is paramount. There were times when they were called in to administer – inhale – naloxone, the antidote for overdose. This time he didn’t have to.

“Vicious circle”

Many catch a conversation with the President of the Republic. They tell her about the doctors who refused to treat them, about the bureaucratic hurdles they can’t get to, about the endless connections with the police. For the vicious circle in which they fell. She patiently listens to them, gives as many answers as she has, for the rest she saves and will return. Some others don’t have time for small talk, they’re already hitting their dose to some degree. In the controlled use area – STEKI 46 in OKANA at Kapodistriou 46 street, a vein scanner is also available. The first XEX user joined the program in a month and a half.

Users know the arrival time of the street work crew and wait in line to receive the kit for safe use.

Often, in the queue that forms when the wagon arrives at Jasonos, a pair of well-mannered bees will also appear. “They come in, take syringes and go home to do their dose,” explains Mr. Theoharis. Heroin makes no difference. “We even have doctors in the program.” It’s getting them into the program that’s the goal, says Nikos. “That’s what I want, to get the other one to safety. In Stacks, in the bedroom, somewhere. Take a bath. Make coffee. Not for myself, for someone else. Let him see how nice it is to take care of. He himself came into use in ’78, when “we used drugs for ideological reasons,” he says half-jokingly, half-seriously. Now; “Now there is no family,” he replies quite seriously. “There is no base. Kids start because they want to belong somewhere.”

Shisha streets

We pass – without parking – past Satovriandos Square, where, as a rule, they use crystal methamphetamine (hookah). Another world, other faces, especially other eyes. As if they will crawl out of their niches. Users are more aggressive here, they want a different approach, OKANA employees tell us. The entity dissolved them. The tour runs on Wednesdays and Fridays.

In Marseille, next to the university, the atmosphere is changing again. “Hello, Madam President.” – Shall we take a picture? someone asks. “Let me tell you about my baby,” pleads another. He will sit there for a while. “I’m sorry I’m late,” the woman tells her. “We all need care, some less, some more,” the president assures, visibly touched. “These people think they don’t deserve anything,” Mr. Theoharis will comment a little later.

Back at the nursing home, there is a standard discharge meeting. This is required after the tours. Andreas mentions that he saw a child in Jasonos Square who had been clean for two and a half years. He told him that his father, with whom he lived in some country town, had just died. When he returned to Athens, he knew only the square. Andreas told him where to find a bed. These people have huge reserves of strength,” Nikos comments. “And watch them crawl.”