WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION?

Harm Reduction is one pillar of the National Harm Minimisation Strategy.

Harm Minimisation is an overall policy statement that aims to: ‘contribute to ensuring safe, healthy and resilient Australian communities through minimising alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related health, social and economic harms among individuals, families and communities’. National Drug Strategy, 2016-2025

Principles of Harm Reduction

• Most people use some drugs to some extent; it is part of human nature.

• Many people do not want to abstain from drugs.

• There is a continuum of harm associated with drug use.

• The risks associated with the use of any drug can be reduced.

Harm Reduction does not:

• Condone drug use.

• Increase harm.

• Leave out abstinence as an option. We are not an abstinence based organisation;

we refer consumers looking for this option onto other abstinence based agencies.

Check out these links for more information on Harm Reduction:

https://www.hri.global/what-is-harm-reduction
https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/
https://www.harmreductionaustralia.org.au/what-is-harm-reduction/