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Some amazing work going on in harm reduction to adapt to covid. What about the flip side? I was going to write about what Covid responses can learn from drug policy. But I can't be bothered, so here's a thread of loose thoughts...some not unique to drugs, but lessons anyway.
Beware the perpetual threat and the 'good enemy'. We've basically been in a state of public health emergency regarding drugs for decades. It doesn't turn out well.
Harm reduction principles, borne out of experience in public health, apply here too. e.g.
Avoid prohibitions and policing the virus. Again, not unique to harm reduction. Decades of lessons from HIV.
Avoid prohibitions and policing the virus. Again, not unique to harm reduction. Decades of lessons from HIV.
Target risks, vulnerabilities and harms, and meet people where they are. Meaning: lived experience and context matter. e.g. People in prison or homeless. Those for whom social distancing is physically or economically impossible...
Focus on direct and indirect harms - to health, society, economy. Strategise to reduce across the board.
Distinguish virus harms from virus response harms.
It's taken a few months but now the negative effects of lockdown are getting more attention. they should have from the start.
It's taken a few months but now the negative effects of lockdown are getting more attention. they should have from the start.
Don't forget social epidemiology (e.g. inequities in burden of harm), risk environments.
Remember the global south when celebrating 'success'. What 'works' here a. might not work there and b. might harm the global south by offsetting costs onto them.
Don't sell out human rights for a public health goal. If a policy has to interfere with rights (as they may), transparently justify, mitigate possible harms, review.
