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Harm Reduction. Drug-Related Harms…. How Can One Possibly Reduce These Harms? Let us do some brain mapping on this issue…. Drug Abuse Management Strategies. Contd …. Drug Abuse Management Strategies. Contd …. Drug Abuse Management Strategies. What is ‘Harm Reduction’?.
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How Can One Possibly Reduce These Harms? Let us do some brain mapping on this issue…
Why Harm Reduction? Why not eliminate all forms of drug use from the society?
Why Can’t Drugs be Eliminated? • Substance use has been part of human society from the very beginning • ‘Zero Tolerance’ based strategies such as • Legal prohibition of substances • Abstinence-oriented treatment have not been able to eliminate substance use • Making a drug illegal may even increase the harms associated with its use through marginalization and criminalization of drug users
Strategies for Reducing Drug-related Harms This entire package = ‘harm reduction’
Let us rank the harm-reduction strategies!
IDU Risk Reduction Through Education SAFER OPTIONS Reduce number of sharers Continue injecting with cleaned needles Continue injecting with sterile needles Substitution – agonist medicines Shift to illicit but non-injecting drug Stop drug use
Education on Risky Sexual Behaviours STD / HIV testing and treatment
Principles of Harm Reduction • Recognizes the intrinsic value and dignity of all human beings • Focuses on health concerns • Seeks to minimize repressive measures or attributed criminalization of drug use • Does not judge drugs or drug use, views the issue objectively and seeks to reduce associated harms • Encourages safer drug use • Recognizes the competency of individuals to make choices that will change their lives in a positive way • Challenges conventional drug policies and their consequences
