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Scientific leadership

Tough on drugs, soft on evidence? (pdf 153kb)

This short commentary is the outcome of a workshop conducted by the Consortium for Social and Policy Research on HIV, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases. It examines some of the impossible contradictions of current Australian drug policy. A tough on drugs approach conjures political and popular support but ignores the strong evidence that harm reduction is a valuable component of harm minimisation. The paper addresses six main themes:

1. The impact of rhetoric on reality
2. The partnership approach in the response to blood-borne viruses
3. Strategies to deal with challenges
4. Attribution of the success of programs
5. The need to better promote both the evidence for harm reduction, and its success
6. Whole of government response

 

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