Direction:Addiction Studies
Position:Assistant Professor
Irma Kirtadze, M.D. Ph.D., – graduated from State Medical Academy of Georgia in 2006 and received qualification of Psychiatrist. Dr. Kirtadze studied public health research at the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam in 2005 and drug abuse research at the Amsterdam University. Dr. Kirtadze was awarded the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) young psychiatrists award and the first International Society on Addiction Medicine/World Health Organisation (ISAM/WHO) Young Scientists award. She’s recipient of awards for the best, scientific, international abstract/posters from the European (Global Addiction) and American Colleague on Problem on Drug Dependence (CPDD) scientific societies. In 2014 in recognition of her successful research career she received a prestigious NIDA Distinguished International Scientist Collaboration Award (DISCA) and conducted research internship at North Carolina State University. Dr. Kirtadze in 2018 received PhD in Public Health from Ilia State University. She has experience in the clinical, epidemiological & behavioral research on substance use disorders; has experience on health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. She is an author/coauthor of more than 30 scientific publications.
Starting from 2020 she’s been actively involved in economic (costing, expenditure analysis, cost-benefit, optimization) studies of Medication Assisted Treatment and Harm Reduction Programs. Dr. Kirtadze has been involved in development of guidelines and protocols in addiction and harm reduction field. She is a member of the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium (GCCRC), a group of academic researchers with decades of interest and experience in studying cannabis cultivation.
Scientific interests / research interests
Field of Scientific Study: Drug Prevention, Addiction Treatment and Care Intervention effectiveness studies from a gender perspective. Also study of new psychoactive substance use and associated risks, and development of interventions of harm reduction.
Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., Mgebrishvili, T., Beselia, A., Tabatadze, M., Vardanashvili, I., & Ober, A. J. (2022). Implementation and evaluation of a syringe vending machine trial in Tbilisi, Georgia. International Journal of Drug Policy, 103, 103649. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103649
Otiashvili, D., Mgebrishvili, T., Beselia, A., Vardanashvili, I., Dumchev, K., Kiriazova, T., & Kirtadze, I. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on illicit drug supply, drug-related behaviour of people who use drugs and provision of drug related services in Georgia: results of a mixed methods prospective cohort study. Harm Reduction Journal, 19(1), 25. doi:10.1186/s12954-022-00601-z
Kirtadze I, Otiashvili D, Tabatadze M, Vardanashvili, I, Sturua, L, Zabransky, T, Anthony, J.C.. Republic of Georgia estimates for prevalence of drug use: Randomized response techniques suggest under-estimation. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2018; 187: 300-304. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.019
Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., Wechsberg, W. M., & Jones, H. E., (2015). Women Who Inject Drugs in the Republic of Georgia: In their Own Words. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47(1), 71-79.
Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., Wechsberg, W. M., & Jones, H. E., (2013). Twice stigmatized: Health service provider’s perspectives on drug-using women in the Republic of Georgia. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2013; 45(1): 1-9.
Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., & Jones, H. E. (2012). Behavioral Treatment + Naltrexone Reduces Drug Use and Legal Problems in the Republic of Georgia. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 38(2), 171-175
Books
- Bergen-Cico, D., Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., & Park, J.H. (2021) Social and geo-political factors influencing trends in substance use. (Chapter 18) In S.C. Scrimshaw, S. D. Lane, R. A. Rubinstein & J. Fischer (Eds.) The Sage Handbook of Social Studies in Health and Medicine.Sage Publishing.
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., (2015) Changing Patterns of Drug Use in Georgia: A Case Vignette in N. el-Guebaly, G., Carrà, M., Galanter, (eds.), Textbook of Addiction Treatment: International Perspectives, 79-86, Springer, ISBN 978-88-470-5321-2; DOI 10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_9
Articles in magazines
- Javakhishvili DJ, Kirtadze I, Otiashvili D. ‘Ten Years Later’ – Developing Institutional Mechanisms for Drug Demand Reduction and Addictology Education in Georgia – A Case Study. Adiktologie. 2022; 22(1):35-46.
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., Mgebrishvili, T., Beselia, A., Tabatadze, M., Vardanashvili, I., & Ober, A. J.(2022). Implementation and evaluation of a syringe vending machine trial in Tbilisi, Georgia.International Journal of Drug Policy, 103, 103649. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103649
- Otiashvili, D., Mgebrishvili, T., Beselia, A., Vardanashvili, I., Dumchev, K., Kiriazova, T., & Kirtadze, I.(2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on illicit drug supply, drug-related behaviour of peoplewho use drugs and provision of drug related services in Georgia: results of a mixed methodsprospective cohort study. Harm Reduction Journal, 19(1), 25. doi:10.1186/s12954-022-00601-z
- Lawlor, C., Gogia, M., Kirtadze, I. et al.Hidden populations: risk behaviours in drug-using populations in the Republic of Georgia through subsequent peer-driven interventions. Harm Reduct J 18, 78 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00527-y
- Otiashvili D, Kirtadze I, Mgebrishvili T, Beselia A, Tabatadze M, Otiashvili N, Ober AJ, Iguchi MY. Smart Syringe Vending Machines: Research Capabilities and Implications for Research Data Collection. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2021 Nov;82(6):752-757. PubMed PMID: 34762034.
- Tamar Mgebrishvili, Irma Kirtadze, Ada Beselia, Irina Vardanashvili & David Otiashvili(2020) The effects of decriminalization of cannabis in Georgia (country) on user behaviors, Journal of Substance Use, DOI: 1080/14659891.2020.1798523
- David Subeliani, David Otiashvili, Lika Kutelia, Ada Beselia, Tamar Mgebrishvili, Irina Vardanashvili & Irma Kirtadze(2020) Patterns of use of new psychoactive substances and perceived benefits and negative effects: results of online survey in Georgia (country), Journal of Substance Use, 25:3, 324-329, DOI: 1080/14659891.2019.1692927
- Kirtadze, I.(2019) Publishing Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 3rd edition. Thomas F. Babor, Kerstin Stenius, Richard Pates, Michal Miovský, Jean O’Reilly & Paul Candon, editors. London: Ubiquity Press; 2017. ISBN: 9781911529088. Addiction, 114: 1893– 1894. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14707.
- Josephine G Walker, Tinatin Kuchuloria, David Sergeenko, Hannah Fraser, Aaron G Lim, Shaun Shadaker, Liesl Hagan, Amiran Gamkrelidze, Valeri Kvaratskhelia, Lia Gvinjilia, Malvina Aladashvili, Alexander Asatiani, Davit Baliashvili, Maia Butsashvili, Ivdity Chikovani, Irma Khonelidze, Irma Kirtadze, Mark H Kuniholm, David Otiashvili, Lali Sharvadze, Ketevan Stvilia, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, Mamuka Zakalashvili, Matthew Hickman, Natasha K Martin, Juliette Morgan, Muazzam Nasrullah, Francisco Averhoff, Peter Vickerman. 2019. Interim effect evaluation of the hepatitis C elimination programme in Georgia: a modelling study. The Lancet Global Health https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30483-8
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., Vardanashvili, I. et al.Perceived acceptability of and willingness to use syringe vending machines: results of a cross-sectional survey of out-of-service people who inject drugs in Tbilisi, Georgia. Harm Reduct J 16, 21 (2019) doi:10.1186/s12954-019-0292-8
- Ada Beselia, Irma Kirtadze & David Otiashvili(2019) Nightlife and Drug Use in Tbilisi, Georgia: Results of an Exploratory Qualitative Study, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51:3, 247-253, DOI: 1080/02791072.2019.1574997
- Walker, J. G., L. Hagan, H. Fraser, N. K. Martin, J. Morgan, M. Nasrullah, F. Averhoff, D. Otiashvili, I. Chikovani, M. Aladashvili, M. H. Kuniholm, I. Kirtadze, L. Gvinjilia, A. Asatiani, D. Baliashvili, I. Khonelidze, K. Stvilia, M. Butsashvili, T. Tsertsvadze, A. Gamkrelidze, V. Kvaratskhelia, and P. Vickerman. 2017. “Projected impact and pathways to success of the hepatitis C virus elimination program in Georgia, 2015-2020.” Journal of Hepatology 66 (1):S70. doi: 10.1016/S0168-8278(17)30401-4.
- Kirtadze I, Otiashvili D, Tabatadze M, Vardanashvili, I, Sturua, L, Zabransky, T, Anthony, J.C.. Republic of Georgia estimates for prevalence of drug use: Randomized response techniques suggest under-estimation. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2018; 187: 300-304. doi:1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.019
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K.E. et al. Comprehensive Women-Centered Treatment for Psychoactive Substance Use in the Republic of Georgia: Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Ment Health Addiction (2018) 16: 1249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9852-x
- Bergen-Cico, D., Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., Zábranský, T., & Tsertsvadze, V. (2017). Cost Analysis of the Country of Georgia’s Street Level Drug Testing Policy. Journal of Drug Policy Analysis, 10.
- Otiashvili, D., I. Kirtadze, and D. Bergen-Cico, Exploring the New Phenomena of Home-Made Extraction and Injection of Ephedra Plant Product in Georgia. Substance Use & Misuse, 2017: p. 1-4.
- Otiashvili, D., Tabatadze, M., Balanchivadze, N. et al.Policing, massive street drug testing and poly-substance use chaos in Georgia – a policy case study. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 11, 4 (2016) doi:10.1186/s13011-016-0049-2
- Otiashvili, D., Latypov, A., Kirtadze, I., Ibragimov, U., & Zule, W. (2016). Drug preparation, injection, and sharing practices in Tajikistan: a qualitative study in Kulob and Khorog. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 11(1), 1-8.doi:10.1186/s13011-016-0065-2
- Jones, H.E., Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D. et al.Feasibility and initial efficacy of a culturally sensitive women-centered substance use intervention in Georgia: Sex risk outcomes. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 10, 47 (2015) doi:10.1186/s13011-015-0043-0
- Zule, W.A., Latypov, A., Otiashvili, D. et al.Factors that influence the characteristics of needles and syringes used by people who inject drugs in Tajikistan. Harm Reduct J 12, 37 (2015) doi:10.1186/s12954-015-0069-7
- Wechsberg, W. M., Deren, S., Myers, B., Kirtadze, I., Zule, W. A., Howard, B., & El-Bassel, N. (2015). Gender-Specific HIV prevention interventions for women who use alcohol and other drugs: The evolution of the science and future directions. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 69, S128-S139. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000000627
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., Wechsberg, W. M., & Jones, H. E., (2015). Women Who Inject Drugs in the Republic of Georgia: In their Own Words. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47(1), 71-79.
- Jones, H. E., Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., Murphy K., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., & Wechsberg, W. M., (2014). Process and Product in Cross-Cultural Treatment Research: Development of a Culturally Sensitive Women-Centered Substance Use Intervention in Georgia. Journal of Addiction, 2014, 12.
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W., Krupitsky, E., Wechsberg, W. M., Jones, H.E., (2014). Comprehensive women-centered treatment for substance use disorders in Georgia: current status and future directions. Journal of Substance Use, 20:5, 367-374.
- Julie Bouscaillou, Julie Champagnat, Niklas Luhmann, Ina Inaridze, Véronique Miollany, Koka Labartkava, Irma Kirtadze, Maia Butsashvili, George Kamkamidze, Dominique Pataut (2014). Hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Tbilisi, Georgia: An urgent need for prevention and treatment. International Journal of Drug Policy. 25 (5):871-8.
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., Wechsberg, W. M., Jones H.E., (2013). Access to treatment for substance-using women in the Republic of Georgia: Socio-cultural and structural barriers. International Journal of Drug Policy, 24(6):566-572
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., Zule, W. A., Krupitskii, E. M., Wechsberg, W. M., & Jones, H. E., (2013). Twice stigmatized: Health service provider’s perspectives on drug-using women in the Republic of Georgia. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2013; 45(1): 1-9.
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., O’Grady, K. E., & Jones, H. E. (2012). Behavioral Treatment + Naltrexone Reduces Drug Use and Legal Problems in the Republic of Georgia. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 38(2), 171-175
- Lund, I., Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., OGrady, K., & Jones, H. (2012). Female partners of opioid-injecting men in the Republic of Georgia: an initial characterization. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 7:46
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., O’Grady, K. E., & Jones, H. E., (2012). Drug use and HIV risk outcomes in opioid-injecting men in the Republic of Georgia: Behavioral treatment + naltrexone compared to usual care. Drug and alcohol dependence, 120, 14-21.
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., & Javakhishvili, D. J. (2011). Education Needs in the Sphere of Addictology in Adictologie, 11(1), 52-60.
- Javakhishvili, D. J., Sturua, L., Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., & Zabransky, T. (2011). Overview of the Drug Situation in Georgia. Adictologie, 11(1), 42-51.
- Meyer, William , Costenbader, Elizabeth C. , Zule, William A. , Otiashvili, David and Kirtadze, Irma (2010) ”We are ordinary men’: MSM identity categories in Tbilisi, Georgia’, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 12: 8, 955 — 971.
- Otiashvili D., Zabransky T., Kirtadze I., Piralishvili G., Chavchanidze M., Miovsky M., Why do the clients of Georgian needle exchange programs inject buprenorphine? European Addiction Research, 2010; 16:1-8
- Costenbader EC, Otiashvili D, Meyer W, Zule WA, Orr A, Kirtadze I (2009). Secrecy and Risk among MSM in Tbilisi, Georgia. AIDS Care. 21(5):591-597. PMID: 19444667.
- Kirtadze I, Zurabashvili D, Talashvili T, Mchedlishvili M (January-February 2006). Inhalants, Thrombocytes and Their Connection in Youngsters. Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, ISSN 0132-1447, 2006, N1 (173) January-February, pp.177-178.
- Kirtadze I, Zurabashvili D (2006). Study of Chemical Composition of Glue “RAZI” Used by Solvent Abusers in Tbilisi, Georgian Medical News, ISSN 1512-0112, N4 (133) April, pp.65-67, PMID: 16705232.
- Kirtadze I. (2004). Risky Behavior and Early Inhalant Use. Georgian Medical News, ISSN 1512-0112, N6 (111) June, pp. 49-52.
An extensive list of publications
- Ada Beselia, Irma Kirtadze, Tamar Mgebrishvili, David Otiashvili, Mariam Razmadze, Ketevan Sikharulidze, and Darejan (Jana) Javakhishvili. Ed. by Mzia Tabatadze. Access to the Opioid Substitution Therapy in Georgian Prisons: The Focus on Current Challenges and Barriers. Tbilisi, 2019. Alternative Georgia.
- David Otiashvili, Irma Kirtadze, Tamar Mgebrishvili, Ada Beselia, Irina Vardanashvili. Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on drug markets and behavior of people who use drugs in Georgia. EMCDDA funded Project. Tbilisi, 2021. Alternative Georgia.
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., Tabatadze, M. National Survey on Substance Use in the General Population in Georgia, 2015. USAID and CzDA funded Addiction Research Development in Georgia Project. Tbilisi, 2016. Alternative Georgia.
- Kirtadze, I., Otiashvili, D., Tabatadze, M. Cost Benefit Analysis of Medication Assisted Treatment & Needle – Syringe Programs in Georgia, Final Report. USAID and CzDA funded Addiction Research Development in Georgia Project. Tbilisi, 2016. Alternative Georgia.
- Alavidze Sopho, Duchidze Nino, Kirtadze Irma, Otiashvili David,Razmadze Mariam, Sturua Lela, Tabatadze Mzia, Javakhishvili Jana (Darejan), (2016). Drug Situation in Georgia, Annual Report, 2014. Tbilisi: Alternative Georgia.
- Irma Kirtadze. Economic Analysis of Harm Reduction Programs in Georgia. Tbilisi, 2015.
- Alavidze Sopho, Balanchivadze Nino, Batselashvili Lile, Duchidze Nino, Javakhishvili Jana (Darejan), Kikvidze Tamar, Kirtadze Irma, Otiashvili Davit, Razmadze Mariam, Sturua Lela, Tabatadze Mzia, Tsertsvadze Vano (2015). Drug Situation in Georgia, 2013. Annual Report. Tbilisi: Alternative Georgia.
- Qualitative survey of the GFATM funded MMTP in the civil sector and the penitentiary system to promote beneficiary involvement and improve service quality. Tbilisi: Alternative Georgia.
- Javakhishvili, D. J., Balanchivadze, N., Kirtadze, I., Sturua, L., Otiashvili, D., & Zabransky, T. (2013). Drug Situation in Georgia, 2012. Annual Report. Tbilisi: Global Initiative on Psychiatry/Alternative Georgia.
- Otiashvili, D., Kirtadze, I., Tsertsvadze, V., Chavchanidze, M., Zabransky, T. How Effective Is Street Drug Testing. Alternative Georgia, 2012
- Kirtadze, Irma, Veena Menon, Kip Beardsley, Steven Forsythe, and Ramona Godbole. 2012. Assessing the Costs of Medication-Assisted Treatment for HIV Prevention in Georgia. Washington, DC: Futures Group, USAID | Health Policy Initiative Costing Task Order.
- Kirtadze Irma. 2012. Naloxone – “Naloxone is a great medicine that all drug users should carry in their pockets”. Alternative Georgia & New Vector
- Javakhishvili, D. J., Balanchivadze, N., Kirtadze, I., Sturua, L., Otiashvili, D., & Zabransky, T. (2010). Overview of the Drug Situation in Georgia, 2011. Tbilisi: Global Initiative on Psychiatry/Alternative Georgia.
Current Courses |
Course Catalog |
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| Gambling and Drug Addiction; Doctoral Seminar I (Healthcare); Recovery pathway of substance use disorder (with special focus on gender- sensitive approaches); Research Methods in Addictology (1); Master’s Thesis (Healthcare Management); Health Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation; Health Promotion, Health Protection and Disease Prevention (ENG) Research Methods in Addictology (II); Program Monitoring and evaluation; Neurobiological Mechanisms of Drug Addiction |
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2021-present Country Coordinating Mechanism Ethics focal point for the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria funded projects (Georgia)
2021-present Executive board member, Georgian Association for Public Opinion and Market Research (Georgia)
2021-present BMC Public Health – editorial board member (International)
2020-present Member of the Expert Advisory Groups for the Georgian National Drug Observatory (Georgia)
2015-present Abstract review committee member, International Women’s Annual Conference (USA)
2014 External peer reviewer for the WHO publication Guidelines for the identification and management of substance use and substance use disorders in pregnancy.
Since 2014 Verified reviewer https://publons.com/author/431849/irma-kirtadze-md#profile of scientific journals:
- Harm Reduction Journal
- BMC Public Health
- Journal of the International AIDS Society
- Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
- PLOS ONE
Since 2014 Member, Bio-ethics committee of addictology and mental health research (Georgia)
2013-present Member, Georgian Association of Addictologists (Georgia)
2013-present Associate Member, College on Problems of Drug Dependence (USA)
2008-present Member, European Society for Social Drug Research (EU)