Transcript Harm Reduction - TakingITGlobal

Harm Reduction for Young People:
Why A Youth Network?
Diane Riley, PhD
Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy,
Youth Network for Harm Reduction
& University of Toronto
[email protected] www.cfdp.ca www.ihra.net www.idpc.org
1st Youth Network for Harm Reduction International Meeting
Warsaw May 2007
History of the Harm Reduction Movement
► 1920s:
► 1960s:
► 1970s:
► 1980s:
prescribing of drugs in UK supported
methadone treatment established
harm reduction for alcohol
syringe exchanges begun in Netherlands,
UK, Australia, Canada etc
► 1980s: harm reduction education spreads
► 1990: first International conference, Liverpool
► 1996: IHRA launched
► 1996-present: regional networks formed in Asia,
Latin America, CEE, Middle East & North Africa
(Africa dormant)
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Why a Youth Network?
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What IHRA and the regional networks do
Limits of adult approach with youth
Value of peer to peer approaches
Role of mentors/advisors
Harm reduction for street kids
Training and education
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Harm Reduction: Aims
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Reduce the spread of infections such as
HIV & Hep C
Reduce risky drug use
Prevent drug overdose deaths
Provide honest drug education
Increase users' contact with services and
treatment
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Harm Reduction - Definition
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Harm reduction aims to reduce the adverse
health, social, and economic consequences
of drug use while the person is still using
drugs.
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Drug-related Harms
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term harm reduction implies that drugs can
cause real harms.
► Harms are psychological, physical, social, legal,
economic
► Harms are to individual, family, community, society
► Harms are not an inevitable consequence of drug
use.
► They can be prevented or reduced through a
range of strategies
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Programs
Harm reduction programs include:
► Moderate drinking
► Needle and Syringe exchange
► Education
► Peer outreach
► Methadone maintenance
► Safer use sites
► Crack cocaine kits
► Drug policy reform
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Basic Concepts
Focuses on reducing harms to individual, family &
community & not simply on reducing use
 Accepts that drug use is human and brings with it
both harms & benefits
 Sees substance use as a public health & human
rights issue, not a criminal one.
 Does not promote drug use & does not judge drug
use as good or bad.
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 Morally neutral
 Non-Coercive
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Basic Concepts
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Acknowledges that stopping drug use may
not be realistic or desirable for everyone
Provides practical strategies for reducing
risks & harms
No person should be denied access to
services because of their drug use.
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Basic Concepts
Balances costs and benefits
► Provides accurate information
► Attempts to promote & facilitate access to
care for drug misuse & mental health
problems
► Engages drug users in a continuum of care
from which they would otherwise be
excluded
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Harm Reduction Principles
► Pragmatism
► Focus on Harms
► Hierarchy of goals
► Reward not punishment
► Humanistic & Human Rights
► Non-judgmental
► Reduce Stigma
► Autonomy
► Flexibility
► Evidence based
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Why Harm Reduction?
► We
will never have a drug-free society
► Abstinence has its limitations for many
► Enforcement has its limitations
► Primary prevention has its limitations
► People will continue to use drugs and get
sick & die.
► We can reduce illness, suffering, deaths
and other harms that people experience.
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