Scotland is a textbook case of how the toxic combination of growing social exclusion and poverty, the diversification of drug markets, and repressive, abstinence-only drug policies can lead to a deadly drug overdose epidemic. A new paper published by the Scottish government gives us hope that the country can now set an example to other states on how to give a compassionate and pragmatic response to the crisis.
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is a pragmatic and compassionate approach to people who use licit and illicit drugs. As a principle it is applied in several other areas of life, for example when you fasten your seat-belts in a car to reduce the risk of injuries. Policies and services based on harm reduction respect the dignity and freedom of human beings and help them to stay healthy and alive even if they choose to continue using drugs. A very obvious example is to distribute clean needles among people who use drugs to prevent hepatitis C and HIV infections. Harm reduction programs should be part of an integrated social and healthcare system. But harm reduction is much more than just a set of services - it is a movement for freedom and social justice applied in the field of drug policy. Drugreporter is a chronicle of this movement.
Police Demolished “Illegal” Drug Consumption Room in Helsinki
In order to raise public awareness of effective overdose-death prevention methods, activists set up an unofficial drug consumption room in the middle of Helsinki.
40 Years in the Frontlines of Harm Reduction in Ireland – Interview with Tony Duffin
Ana Liffey Drug Project is a leading harm reduction NGO in Ireland. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the organisation, we interviewed its CEO, Tony Duffin, about recent developments in harm reduction and drug policy reform in the country.
Harm Reduction in Athens – With the Eye of an Outsider
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!
SWIT Animated Video Digest
Drugreporter and SWAN – The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) co-produced this new animated series, based on the 6 chapters of “SWIT, The Sex Worker Implementation Tool.”
Drugreporter News | June 2022
In this episode: The wall of shame: Why crack consumption rooms are needed in Paris. Canada to decriminalize some drugs in British Columbia for three years. Italy’s recent decision to ban ayahuasca. Australia: Pill testing really does reduce the risk of harm for drug users. New US Drug Control Strategy in the midst of the Overdose Crisis.
The Wall of Shame – Why crack consumption rooms are needed in Paris
In the last 3 decades marginalized people who use crack in Paris have been chased from one public park to the other by the police. Recently the police even built a wall to block the users from the rest of society. This new documentary explores the history of crack in Paris, and amplifies the voices of experts and residents who call for a better solution: safe crack consumption rooms.
The Impact of the War on the Prospects for Harm Reduction and Civil Society in Russia
How will the current war affect harm reduction in Russia? We asked two experts, Michail Golichenko and Alexei Lahov, to share with us their prognosis.
The fruits of our labour: How Drugreporter’s videos were used in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
When shows like Last Week Tonight use our video clips, it reaffirms to us that our efforts are really worth it!
The Narcofeminism Storyshare Model
Watch and listen to womxn who are sharing their stories about pregnancy, parenting and drug use. These stories represent truth and courage and act as a testament to the power of the Narco Feminism story share model. Drugreporter produced this short documentary film together with the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) and the North Carolina Urban Survivors Union (NCUSU). Available in video and podcast format as well!
