The impact of harm reduction on HIV and illicit drug use

Harm Reduction Journal

Thomas Kerr²  Lianping Ti¹ 

[1] School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada;Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada

关键词: Canada;    Illicit drug use;    Harm reduction;   

Others  :  809709
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7517-11-7

 received in 2014-02-04, accepted in 2014-02-12,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

There has been widespread support for harm reduction programs as an essential component for responding to the HIV and illicit drug use epidemics. However, despite the growing international acceptance of harm reduction, there continues to be strong opposition to this approach, with critics alleging that harm reduction programs enable drug use. Vancouver, Canada provides a compelling case study that demonstrates that many positive impacts of harm reduction can be attained while addiction treatment-related goals are simultaneously supported. While the evidence for harm reduction is clearly mounting, it is unfortunate that ideological and political barriers to implementing harm reduction programs in Canada remain. As evidenced by Vancouver and elsewhere, harm reduction programs do not exacerbate drug use and undermine treatment efforts and should thereby occupy a well-deserved space within the continuum of programs and services offered to people who inject drugs.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Ti and Kerr; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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