The Alliance for Public Health, in collaboration with representatives of international professional harm reduction organizations, presents a joint policy statement entitled “Emerging priorities for the reduction of harms associated with recreational use of psychoactive substances in Eastern, South Eastern Europe and Central Asia”. Virusoff introduces the key recommendations of this framework and calls for the widespread implementation of the proposed harm reduction principles and methods in different regions to effectively overcome the challenges associated with the use of psychoactive substances .
The document identifies priorities and harm reduction methods to address the challenges associated with substance use:
- Harm reduction is seen as a key element of the modern approach to drugs, providing an effective response to the wide range of problems associated with their use.
- Despite existing efforts, a constant proportion of the population continues to use surfactants. Harm reduction effectively complements supply and demand side interventions.
- Substance use is a complex phenomenon, and harm reduction strategies need to be adapted to the diversity of substances, modes of use, and purposes of use.
- In countries in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia, particular attention has been paid to addressing high-problem injecting.
- Harm reduction services should reach not only problem users but also those who are new to experimentation or recreational drug use.
- Harm reduction resources and efforts should be allocated rationally, taking into account different groups of drug users and their needs.
The Alliance for Public Health strongly believes that the adoption of the “Emerging priorities for the reduction of harms associated with recreational use of psychoactive substances in Eastern, South Eastern Europe and Central Asia” represents not only a strategic framework but also an important moment in the evolution of approaches to drug use. This strategy reflects current scientific evidence as well as consideration of the individual needs of communities of people who use drugs.
