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Harm Reduction

Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes, interventions and practices that aim to minimise the negative health, social and legal impacts associated with drug and/or alcohol use.

Harm reduction focuses on positive change and working with people without judgement, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that people stop using drugs or alcohol as a precondition of support.

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Focus Scotland | Working to Reduce Alcohol Harm – Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) are the national alcohol charity working to reduce harm caused by alcohol, this is done by promoting evidence-based, cost-effective policy measures
  • Alcohol Change UK Charity – Alcohol Change UK is a leading UK alcohol charity, formed from the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK. Alcohol Change UK works for a society that is free from the harm caused by alcohol. Alcohol Change UK creates evidence-driven change by working towards five key changes: improved knowledge, better policies and regulation, shifted cultural norms, improved drinking behaviours, and more and better support and treatment.
  • SAFER Initiative – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with international partners, launched the SAFER Initiative in 2018 alongside the United Nations third high-level meeting on prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). SAFER was developed to deliver health and development gains in order to meet global, regional and country health and development goals and targets and to reduce human suffering and pain caused by the harmful use of alcohol.
  • WHO – European Region – The European framework for action on alcohol 2022–2025 draws on the latest evidence on alcohol attributable harm and the best evidence to reduce such harm. It reflects the context that Member States find themselves in, including dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlights priority areas for action.
Drugs
  • Cocaine Toolkit – This toolkit provides guidance primarily for staff working with individuals currently in treatment with Opiate Substitution Therapy (OST) for opiate dependence and using cocaine but may also be relevant to individuals presenting with primary cocaine use.
  • European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) – The EUDA mission focuses on contributing to EU preparedness on drugs through four main actions: anticipate, alert, respond and EUDA. The EUDA is a source of drug-related expertise in Europe sharing independent, scientifically validated knowledge, alerts and recommendations.
  • GGC ADRS OST Prescribing Guideline – This guidance is aimed at all independent prescribers, doctors and staff involved in the community care of individuals who use opioid drugs and in particular new and inexperienced prescribers.
  • Harm Reduction International (HRI) – The HRI use data and advocacy to promote harm reduction and drug policy reform. Rights-based, evidence-informed responses to drugs contribute to healthier, safer societies.
  • Naloxone – Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, methadone, opium, codeine, morphine and buprenorphine. Naloxone is only effective for opioid overdoses and won’t work with on other drugs, however  as most drug related deaths in Scotland involve more than one drug the use of naloxone is advised and may help keep the person someone alive until medical help arrives. Naloxone is available in two different forms, Prenoxad, which is a pre-filled syringe or Nyxoid, which is a nasal spray. Naloxone kits are available to anyone who may be supporting someone at risk or likely to witness an overdose. Scottish Families provide a ‘Click & Deliver’ take-home naloxone service to anyone living in Scotland who is over the age of 16 (for injection kit) and 14 (for nasal kit). Scottish Drugs Forum have also developed a short e-learning course that will show you how to respond to an overdose and administer Naloxone. Every pharmacy in Scotland also has Naloxone available for use in an emergency either within the premises or for anyone overdosing near the premises. The pharmacy can administer the Naloxone or provide the kit to a member of the public who has had training in Naloxone and allow them to administer.
  • WEDINOS – Welsh Emerging Drugs & Identification of Novel Substances Project – The Welsh Drug Checking Service WEDINOS provides a robust mechanism for the collection and testing of unknown / unidentified or new psychoactive substances and combinations of substances, and the production and dissemination of pragmatic harm reduction advice.