Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a set of strategies that aim to reduce negative consequences of drug use, by mitigating the potential dangers and health risks. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has significantly expanded its HIV/AIDS programme thanks to support from harm reduction-friendly donor countries, despite ambiguities on the issue within UN drug control agencies. There is a need for up-scaling of basic services for HIV/AIDS prevention and the 'frontline' of heroin prescription and drug consumption rooms.

The urgent next steps in ATS and Harm reduction

November 2011
Tom Blickman

Now is the time to implement low cost and simple harm reduction measures for amphetamine-type stimulant users.

Afghanistan's hidden drug problem

November 2009
Martin Jelsma
Tom Kramer

Afghanistan's drug problem is not simply one of opium production - there is a growing number of heroin addicts that the country is ill prepared to deal with.

Tendencies in European drugs legislation

February 2007
TNI
Pien Metaal

HIV/AIDS and Drug Use in Burma/Myanmar

May 2006
Nr. 17 - 
Drugs and Democracy
Burma Centrum Nederland

The increasing number of injecting drug users (IDUs) and the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma presents one of the most serious health threats to the population in the country, and also to the region at large. Infection rates among IDUs in Burma are among the highest in the world. The international community needs to make a firm commitment to stem the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma and should ensure sufficient and long-term financial support for HIV/AIDS and harm reduction programmes.