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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.

    Rome Declaration of 2011
    June 2011

    Italian, Brazilian and Argentinian judges in a joint statement say that the war on drugs has overwhelmed the judicial and penitentiary system and benefited organised crime.

    Kratom in Thailand: Decriminalisation and Community Control?
    May 2011
    Pascal Tanguay

    Kratom is an integral part of Thai culture and has neglible harmful effects. Community level control and education are recommended for the best path to harm reduction.

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 13
    On the Frontline of Northeast India
    March 2011
    Drugs and Democracy

    Conflict and underdevelopment in Northeast India have contributed to drug consumption and production, and are hampering access to treatment, care and support for drug users.

    Drug Policy Briefing No. 35
    The ‘miracle of San Martín’ and symptoms of ‘alternative development’ in Peru
    December 2010
    Hugo Cabieses

    The Peruvian government has presented the “Miracle of San Martin Model” as the path to follow to achieve drug supply reduction. However a closer look reveals that the model is not replicable, not ecologically sustainable, and won't remedy the ‘symptoms of alternative development’.

    Drug Policy Briefing No. 34
    The Human Toll of the Drug War: A Pending Issue
    August 2010
    Kristel Mucino

    Driven by poverty to make ends meet many small drug sellers' are targeted by harsh drug policies, yet their persecution does nothing to tackle the root cause of drug-related crime or addiction.

    Redefining Targets
    December 2009
    Martin Jelsma
    Tom Kramer

    Afghanistan remains the world’s largest producer of opium and has an under-reported but growing heroin-use problem. Current drug control policies in Afghanistan are unrealistic, reflecting a need for immediate signs of hope rather than a serious analysis of the underlying causes and an effort to...

    Drug Policy Briefing No. 30
    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.

    Stepping away from the darkness
    September 2009
    Martin Jelsma

    The experiences of countries that have decriminalised drugs show that fears of explosions in drugs use are unfounded.

    Argentina’s Supreme Court Rules Sanctions for the Possession of Marijuana Unconstitutional
    August 2009
    TNI

    The Argentine Supreme court ruling that declares unconstitutional the imposition of criminal sanctions for the possession of small quantities of marijuana for personal use represents an important step toward distinguishing between drug use and drug trafficking.

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