Simon Fleißner

Simon Fleißner is a Social Worker. He is currently working as research assistant at the Technische Hochschule Georg Simon Ohm and working on his PhD on the implementation of take-home naloxone in Germany.

Heino Stöver

Heino Stöver, PhD, has been Professor of Addiction Research at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and headed the university’s Institute for Addiction Research until 2024. Heino Stöver is a social scientist by training and was the project leader of the SOLID project in the first project phase. His research interests include health promotion for vulnerable groups, drug services, prisons and related health issues (especially HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and drug dependence). His research and consultancy expertise include working as a consultant for the European Commission, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), WHO, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Open Society Institute (OSI) in various contexts. Heino Stöver is also president of the national umbrella organization working in the field of harm reduction for drug users called Akzept e.V. More information can be found on this website.

Ulla-Britt Klangwart

Ulla-Britt Klankwarth is a criminologist (M.A.) and social worker (B.A.). She currently works as a project assistant for the federal initiative "Kinder von Inhaftierten” at Treffpunkt e.V. in Nuremberg, and is a network partner of "Children of Incarcerated Caregivers" (USA) as well as a member of the Women’s Advisory Committee of the "Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Straffälligenhilfe e.V. (BAG-S)", Berlin.

Mudra (Nuremberg)

The NGO Mudra-Jugend- und Drogenhilfe e.V. has been active as a social service provider in the Nuremberg metropolitan region for over 40 years. The organization offers a wide range of outpatient and inpatient services in child and youth welfare, prevention and drug counselling, family support and migration work. Services range from survival assistance, health care, counselling for those affected and their families, care and support to therapeutic assistance, aftercare, assisted living and employment services, as well as vocational inclusion, integration and qualification measures.

Mariya Prilutskaya

Dr. Mariya Prilutskaya is a PhD and Associate Professor at Semey Medical University (Kazakhstan), specializing in mental health and the prevention of substance use and behavioral disorders. She was a postdoctoral researcher in the first phase of the SOLID project, with a focus on synthetic drug use and interdisciplinary prevention strategies.

She is a member of the Regional Advisory Council on Prevention under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the author of national clinical protocols on substance use disorders and gambling addiction. Dr. Prilutskaya is also part of the founding team of the Alliance of Professional Social Workers in Kazakhstan, which aims to strengthen the social work profession and promote evidence-based practices in the region.

Her work centers on advancing community-based and cross-sectoral approaches to prevention, capacity building, and public health system strengthening through collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

Zhanar Abdykalykova

MSW, MBA Accounting and Finance, Director of the branch office of the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers in Almaty and Almaty region, senior lecturer at Narxoz University, member of the National Prevention Mechanism for the prevention of torture by the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Areas of professional interest: promotion of social work as academic discipline and practice through organization of trainings, conferences, advocacy and empowerment activities, especially in Community Based Inclusive Development (former Community Based Rehabilitation), Social work in primary healthcare – trainings and support of social workers, who support pregnant women and young children, Professionalization of social workers of Kazakhstani NGOs.

PhD student in Social Work at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 1st year.

Sandugash Ismagulova

Sandugash Ismagulova is a social workerby training and a doctoral student in Social work at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Furthermore, she serves as representative of the “National Alliance of Professional Social workers of Kazakhstan” in Kyzylorda region. In the past, Sandugash has been a doctoral students in the SOLID project. From 2023 to 2024, she was member of the National Preventive Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in the city of Astana (2023-2024). Sandugash studies the application of case management for accompanying people with substance use disorders.

Elena Bilokon

Elena Bilokon is an NGO activist in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She works for the social NGO "Revanche" that provides support to women living with HIV. Elena has been working in the social sphere since 2008, starting as a volunteer at the Credo NGO in Karaganda and later becoming a social worker. Working with women in difficult life circumstances has become not just a profession for her, but her life's work. Elena has been participating in the SOLID project since 2023, first as a summer school participants and later as an organizer of project events in Kazakhstan.

Jarkyn Shadymanova

Dr. Jarkyn Shadymanova is a sociologist, educator, and researcher from Kyrgyzstan with more than twenty years of teaching experience. She teaches the MAT program at the American University of Central Asia and has served as a postdoctoral researcher from Kyrgyzstan with the DAAD-funded SOLID 1 project and a CLASP Fellow (2022–2024) with the OSUN. Her work spans sociology, gender, human rights, public health, and environmental education. She has published widely, including studies on NGOs, drug treatment, and social work in Central Asia, and is the editor of a published book on NGOs and infectious disease prevention in Central Asia. Passionate about interdisciplinary learning, she brings together sociology, sustainability, social work, and innovative pedagogy to empower students and communities across the region.

Zhyldyz Bakirova

Bakirova Zhyldyz is the Deputy Director for the Republican Center of Psychiatry and Narcology. She is а researcher and practitioner, she focuses on comprehensive care and support for people who use psychoactive substances, including strengthening inter-agency coordination. She is a trainer on addiction issues and the author and co-author of numerous clinical guidelines and treatment protocols.

Attika Public Fund

Attika is an organisation based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan that provides support for people from key populations.

Olim Khusenov

Olim Khusenov is medical doctor and toxicologist at the Bukhara Branch of the Republican Research Center of Emergency Medical Care and researcher at Bukhara State Medical Institute in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Dr. Khusenov is an expert for early interventions and the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Guzalkhon Zakhidova

A researcher involved in international projects studying the use of new psychoactive substances among young people in Uzbekistan, author of articles on NPS using, HIV issues and NGO work in Uzbekistan. A psychotherapist who actively works with vulnerable populations (those living with HIV and those with mental health issues) provides psychological rehabilitation. She has been a participant in the SOLID project since 2019 and has participated in conferences in Munich, Berlin, Helsinki, and elsewhere.