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Harm Reduction and Illicit Drugs

This presentation by Dr. Tomas Zabransky explores successful harm reduction strategies for illicit drug use, emphasizing a pragmatic, evidence-based approach. It highlights the importance of building coalitions among diverse experts, effective communication tailored to audiences, and demonstrating societal benefits beyond solely aiding drug users. Success stories showcase effective initiatives like syringe exchange programs and heroin maintenance, while addressing failures that arise from community disconnect and improper coalition-building. Dr. Zabransky stresses a comprehensive strategy to foster community understanding and collaboration in addressing drug-related challenges.

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Harm Reduction and Illicit Drugs

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  1. Harm Reduction and Illicit Drugs What works and what doesn‘t Tomas Zabransky, M.D., Ph.D. Czech Republic

  2. What works in the harm reduction • Build on personal experience • Pragmatic, evidence-based approach • Building coalitions • Communicate principles the way your audience understands • Point out the benefits for the whole society, not for drug users exclusively • That is, to find the least common denominator • M O N E Y ?

  3. Building coalitions • Networking people of different expertise / competence, but similar views • Covering all the relevant areas (see failure example later) • Trying to articulate common opinion • Finding the „trigger“ – the thing that launches the action • Being fast, being public

  4. Proper communication • The most difficult part • Scientifically fair, yet unambiguous • Short, but covering all the substantial issues • Understandable, but not „selling the goods“ • „Step by step“ – but comprehensive • Polite, but sharp when necessary • Audible

  5. Having in mind benefits of the whole society, not your target group exclusively • Relatively easy when speaking about issues such as BBDs • More difficult when speaking about criminal factors • Impossible when discussing „values“ (that are often use as camouflage for beliefs) • Money talks? • Very often – but not always…

  6. Success stories Needle exchange (and other HR measures) programs in Europe, Australia and Canada (and elsewhere) User rooms in Frankfurt am Main Heroin maintenance in Switzerland The implementation if substituion treatment in Czech Republic And, possibly, classification of illegal drugs in the CR Failure stories Needle park (Curych) Raised legitimate community concerns User rooms (Czech Republic) Too far to early Did not respond to community needs Cessation of pill testing in Czech Republic and elsewhere Communication into public underestimated Coalition not built properly (venue promoters stand back) Find the interests of public • The implementation if substituion treatment in Czech Republic

  7. Thank you for your attention! tomas@zabransky.cz www.focalpoint.cz

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