| Principles
of Harm Reduction
Accepts,
for better and for worse, that illicit
drug use is part of our world and
chooses to work to minimize its harmful
effects rather than simply ignore, condemn
them or require complete abstinence.
Understands
drug use as something that is complex
that encompasses a continuum of
behaviors from severe abuse to total
abstinence, and acknowledges that some
ways of using drugs are clearly safer
than others.
Establishes
quality of individual and community life
and well-being--not necessarily
cessation of all drug use--as the
criteria for successful interventions
and policies.
Calls
for the non-judgmental, non-coercive
provision of services and resources to
people who use drugs to assist them in
reducing harm to themselves and to
others.
Affirms
drugs users themselves as the primary
agents of reducing the harms of their
drug use, and seeks to empower users to
share information and support each other
in strategies which meet their actual
conditions of use.
Recognizes
that the realities of poverty, class,
racism, social isolation, past trauma,
sex-based discrimination and other
social inequalities affect both people's
vulnerability to and capacity for
effectively dealing with drug-related
harm.
Does
not attempt to minimize or ignore the
real and tragic harm and danger
associated with illicit drug use. |
