DRUGS

WHO MAY

BE

AFFECTED

BY

DRUGS?School boys

and girls

Female

heroin addict

Social drinker and

smoker

A pill popping raver

who’s beginning to

rely on ecstasy

Dealers making

money off kids

Police who fight the

war on drugs

Communities overrun

by drugs

Social workers who

help with drug

rehabilitation

Harm minimization aims to LESSENthe dangers that drug abuse and ourdrug policies cause to society.

Description

Harm minimisation aim?To reduce the number of young peopleusing drugs.

To delay the onset of drug use.

To minimise the harm caused by drugs.

To enable those who have concerns aboutdrug use to seek help.

List main aim of harm minimization

Harm Minimization Strategy:

1. Harm Reduction

2. Supply Control

3. Demand Reduction

List 3 components of harm minimization

1. Harm Reduction

Refers to the harm caused by the drug user and the wider community. This includes the need to teach safer ways for people to use drugs if they are going to do so.

For example use needle exchange programs so users get clean needles and safely dispose of used ones. This then prevents diseases from spreading, and helps to ensure pubic safety.

2. Supply Control Laws are created and enforced by government and

police aimed at preventing drugs from entering the country, being manufactured and distributed.

For example if there are not as many drugs are on the streets, less people can have access to them and ‘traffickers’ will also go out of business.

3. Demand Reduction

Making people want to use drugs less

For example -:

providing information to people so they can make responsible choices

helping people to achieve a good standard of living and be able to maintain happy and healthy relationships so they are less likely to turn to drugs.

helping people with drug problems to seek treatment and rehabilitation.

How harm minimisation works?To minimise the harm of drugs, the problem

needs to be looked at on a number of levels and from a number of angles.

A multi component approach is most effective, as different issues require different approaches.

Multi Component Approach

*Policies *Education

*Media *Community

*Family *Rehabilitation

*Safety and Protection

*Speakers in schools

*Safe injecting rooms

*Taxes

DRUG TYPE SUPPLY CONTROL

Fill in gaps

DEMAND REDUCTION

Fill in gaps

HARM REDUCTION

Fill in gaps

TOBACCO QUIT campaigns.

Classes for smokers

Ban advertising

ALCOHOL Age restrictions. Sales. Proof of age entry.Alcho-pop’ tax

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Relaxation training

Stress Management

Education programs

Consumer info on labels and packets

CANNABIS Media /Education

Relaxation training

Stress management

ECSTACY Laws against using, manufacturing, supplying, possession

Public education campaigns

Examples Of Harm Minimisation Strategies

Points to consider re Harm Minimization

There is no set solution to the drug problem in a free society, and many different interventions may work.

Some drugs, such as marijuana, are less harmful than others, such as cocaine and alcohol.

Aims to lessen the harm of drugs through education, prevention, and treatment.

Aims to protect youth from the dangers of drugs by offering factual, drug education and eliminating youth’s black market exposure to drugs.

List 4 points to consider regarding Harm Minimzation.

Zero Tolerance Zero tolerance is a term refers to strict policing

measures. It does not support the consideration of drug use as a health issue rather than a legal issue.

Q What is zero tolerance?