Principles of Harm Reduction vs. Drug Prohibition Approach

This essay examines the contrasting principles of harm reduction and drug prohibition approaches to substance abuse. Harm reduction is presented as a treatment and health strategy focused on minimizing the negative consequences of drug use, encompassing a range of tactics from complete abstinence to pragmatic harm reduction measures. The essay highlights the six core principles of harm reduction: humanism, incrementalism, individualism, autonomy, pragmatism, and accountability. In contrast, drug prohibition is described as legislation that prohibits the production, supply, and possession of substances identified as drugs, aligning with international treaty commitments. The essay also touches upon models used to enforce drug prohibition, such as the psychopharmacological, systemic, and economic motivation models. It concludes by emphasizing the fundamental differences between these two approaches, with harm reduction prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of drug users, while drug prohibition focuses on legal restrictions and enforcement.

How do the principles of harm reduction
andor a risk environment approach differ
from a drug prohibition approach?

Table of Contents
Principles of harm reduction or risk environment approach differ from a drug prohibition approach.........3
References...................................................................................................................................................4

Principles of harm reduction or risk environment approach differ from a drug
prohibition approach
Harm reduction is a treatment approach and health strategy which aimed at reducing the
negative consequences of substance abuse. Harm reduction encompasses a wide range of
possibilities and tactics. It might range from complete abstention to don't use any medications at
all. It is not necessary to stop using all substances before seeking treatment (Duff, C., 2015).
The history of harm reduction is evaluated in terms of philosophies, theories, procedures,
types, participants, legal, financial, service delivery, and ethical implications, as well as the
internal and external implications. All through the life cycle of philosophies and programmers,
necessary key conditions are addressed, as well as unresolved problems and contradictions.
Furthermore, harm reduction might accidentally distance drug users (DUs) from conventional
(normed) care by institutionalizing specialized treatment for DUs who are "marginalized" from
society (Farrell, 2010).
There are six crucial principles of the harm reduction which mainly generalized the use in
the healthcare practices with the patients those utilize the illicit substances. Some specific
principles are includes in such as humanism, incrementalism, individualism, autonomy,
pragmatism & accountability without any kind of termination (LEVINE, 2003).
On the basis of my consideration, it is determined that we principal of harm reduction from
the drug prohibition approach in many term. Drug prohibition law is mainly considered as the
prohibition based legislation in which government of Australia prohibited and except the license
of production, supply and also possession the substances which identified as a drug & that
corresponds to the international treaty commitment as per the single convention on the Narcotics
Drugs (Treloar and et. al., 2016). In order to maintain the effectiveness of the appropriate of
drug prohibition, some specific models are applied which as psychopharmacological model,
systemic model & economic motivation model.

References
Duff, C., 2015. Assemblages, territories, contexts. International Journal of Drug Policy, 33,
pp.15–20.
Farrell, G., 2010. Situational Crime Prevention and Its Discontents: Rational Choice and Harm
Reduction versus ‘Cultural Criminology.’ Social policy & administration, 44(1), pp.40–66.
LEVINE, H. G. 2003. Global drug prohibition: its uses and crises. International Journal of Drug
Policy, 14, 145-153.
Treloar, C., Rance, J., Yates, K. and Mao, L., 2016. Trust and people who inject drugs: The
perspectives of clients and staff of Needle Syringe Programs. International Journal of Drug
Policy, 27, pp.138-145.