I entered a residential therapeutic community in Greece expecting care, understanding and a way out of addiction. What I encountered was a culture in which humiliation, confrontation and submission could be presented as treatment. Years later, working in harm reduction and drug policy, I encountered the same institution again — this time as one of the most powerful voices shaping how Greece understood addiction and recovery. A guest article by Marios Atzemis, a leading Greek HIV activist and harm reduction expert.

On September 9 and 10, 2024, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), in collaboration with Drugreporter, hosted an Advocacy Workshop for harm reductionists in Budapest. You can now watch the recap video of the event here!

CORE is a 36 months EU project that aims to reduce inequalities in the HIV, TB and viral hepatitis responses and involves  24 partners from 16 EU Member States. In these short videos, produced by Drugreporter, you can witness the progress that implementing organisations on the ground achieved with the help of CORE.

Drug Consumption Rooms are safe spaces where people can use drugs under hygienic conditions, with support, and without fear of violence or legal repercussions. Today, more than 140 legally-sanctioned DCRs operate in 11 European countries, as well as in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the USA. Join us on a global video tour to discover why they were established, how they support their local communities and how these life-saving harm reduction facilities have evolved over time.

CORE – COmmunity REsponse to End Inequalities aims to reduce inequalities in the HIV, TB and viral hepatitis responses by promoting, strengthening and integrating community responses that have proven key in reaching communities that have been traditionally underserved by mainstream prevention and healthcare services. Watch the introduction video by Drugreporter!

This report gives an insight into how governments involve civil society in drug policy decision-making in four European countries.

Seven years after our last visit, we returned to Athens to film about harm reduction in Greece, with a special focus on the first drug consumption room. Read our article and watch the movie we produced!

An update about how access to harm reduction programs changed in European cities after the lockdown measures were lifted between the first and second waves of the COVID-19 epidemic. 

HumanRights360, a human rights NGO, in partnership with STEPS, a harm reduction NGO, started a new program to provide legal help to people who live on streets in Athens. We interviewed Emmanouela Soldatou, the research and advocacy coordinator of STEPS about this new initiative.

On this info page Drugreporter provides regular updates about resources and news on how harm reduction service providers respond to the COVID-19 Epidemic.