Harm minimisation encompasses three pillars: Demand, Supply and harm reduction

Thank you Andrea.

The approach of harm minimisation encompasses the three pillars of:

•          demand reduction to prevent the uptake and/or delay the onset of use of drugs; reduce the misuse of drugs in the community; and support people to recover from dependence and  reintegrate with the community;

•          supply reduction to prevent, stop, disrupt or otherwise reduce the production and supply of illegal drugs; 

•          harm reduction to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of the use of  drugs.

The three pillars apply across all drug types. The objectives for each pillar are:

Demand reduction:

•          prevent, uptake  and  delay  onset of drug use;

•          reduce use of drugs in the community;

•          support people to recover from dependence and reconnect with the community;

•          support  efforts  to promote social   inclusion.

Supply reduction

•          reduce the supply  of  illegal drugs (both current and emerging)

•          control  and  manage the supply  of other legal drugs.

 Harm reduction

•          reduce harms   to community families and individuals      

My point of view: as long as people wish to use drugs, there will be a market. People use drugs because they are unsatisfied with their lives as they are. Until people live enjoyable lives, they will turn to "experience modifiers" such as illicit drugs.

Experience modifiers are a health issue, be it mental or physical. Some are more dangerous to the individual than others but control of these things cannot and should not be legislated by government.

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