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Harm Reduction In Substance Abuse Essay

While in theory, harm reduction strategy may seem like a good idea, putting it into practice has proven difficult. Take the case of 'Needle Park' in Switzerland: "In the 1990s, Zurich experimented with what became known as Needle Park where addicts could openly purchase drugs and inject heroin without police intervention. Zurich became the mecca for drug addicts across Europe, who would travel to Needle Park. In 1992, when authorities decided to close Needle Park, the addicts moved to Letten railroad station until its closure in 1995" (Zurich, 2010, USDA). Innocent residents near the Park were plagued with the constant presence of drug addicts, and experienced a loss of quality of life as a result. Harm reduction strategies are seldom pursued in a unified fashion, and addicts will flock to locations such as Zurich, that enable them to pursue their habits with little legal hassle. Harm reduction programs can thus create geographical locations where drug use is the norm, rather than the exception. The policy can create geographically-specific drug use meccas. The community-wide example of other drug abusers promotes further drug use and contributes to a deteriorating...

Harm reduction may work in theory, but in practice, the desperation and negative side effects of widespread drug use can result in harm to both the community and the individual. When drug use goes up, human inhibitions go down, and the result of normalizing drug use benefits no one.
References

Priya, Kumar Ravi, Siddharth Singh, Jimmy Dorabjee, Suneet Varma, & Luke Samson. (2005).

How effective are harm reduction programs for drug users? Some insights from an evaluation of the program at Sharan in Delhi. Journal of Health Management. 7 (2):

219-236.

Reducing harm: Treatment and beyond. (2010). Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA).

Retrieved February 9, 2010 at http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/

Sterile syringe access. (2006). Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA). Retrieved February 9,

2010 at http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/needleexchan/

Zurich, Switzerland: Needle Park. (2010). U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Retrieved February 9, 2010 at http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/zurich.html

Sources used in this document:
References

Priya, Kumar Ravi, Siddharth Singh, Jimmy Dorabjee, Suneet Varma, & Luke Samson. (2005).

How effective are harm reduction programs for drug users? Some insights from an evaluation of the program at Sharan in Delhi. Journal of Health Management. 7 (2):

219-236.

Reducing harm: Treatment and beyond. (2010). Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA).
Retrieved February 9, 2010 at http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/
2010 at http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/needleexchan/
Retrieved February 9, 2010 at http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/zurich.html
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