Harm reduction is fundamentally grounded in principles that aim to protect human rights and improve public health. Respecting the rights of people who use drugs.Most harm reduction interventions are inexpensive and easy to implement, and have a strong positive impact on individual and community health. Harm reduction policies and practices are informed by a strong body of evidence that shows interventions to be practical, feasible, effective, safe and cost-effective in diverse social, cultural and economic settings. While abstinence from drug use may be the goal for some people who use drugs, this is an individual choice and should not be imposed, or regarded as the only option. Many people who use drugs do not need treatment, and those experiencing problems associated with drug use may be unwilling or unable to enter abstinence-only treatment for myriad reasons. Entry into treatment should be on the terms of the individual and must never be forced. Offer alternatives to approaches that seek to prevent or end drug useĪccess to high quality, evidence-based prevention, care and treatment programs, including approaches that involve cessation of drug use, are important for some people.Harm reduction challenges laws and policies that contribute to drug-related harms. These include: the criminalisation of people who use drugs abusive and corrupt policing practices the denial of life-saving medical care and harm reduction services restrictions on possession of injecting paraphernalia forced urine testing and detention in the name of rehabilitation and, discrimination based on drug use, class, race, and gender. Many policies around the world create and exacerbate the potential risk and harms of drug use.
Harm reduction seeks to improve drug laws and policies, so that they are not detrimental to the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs and their communities. Reduce the harms of drug laws and policy.Recognising that only a small percentage of people who use drugs experience problematic use, harm reduction may also help people maximise any potential benefits that they gain from using drugs. Harm reduction approaches are facilitative rather than coercive, and aim to reinforce positive change in a person’s life, no matter how small or incremental that change may be. Keeping people who use drugs alive and protecting their health are the most urgent priorities. Keep people alive and encourage positive change in their lives.
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