Under NACP, Targeted Interventions for people who inject drugs include needle-syringe exchange and Opioid Substitution Therapy. Which drug is used as the substitution agent in India's OST centres?

• A Methadone only
• B Fentanyl patch
• C Naltrexone
• D Buprenorphine ✓

Explanation

Opioid Substitution Therapy under NACP targeted interventions primarily uses oral buprenorphine, dispensed under supervision at designated OST centres, often combined with counselling and needle-syringe exchange to reduce HIV transmission through shared injecting equipment. Methadone is used in a limited number of pilot sites but buprenorphine is the mainstay. Naltrexone is an antagonist used for relapse prevention, not substitution, and fentanyl has no role in OST.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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