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Heroin Harm Reduction Programmes

Commonly, heroin is regarded as the most harmful of substances that are abused in the UK. It has huge knock-on effects when addicts run short of a supply: crime – including burglary and muggings - increase disproportionately in a localised area. It is also well accepted that criminalising the drug makes victims out of its users, and forces them into an ever downward spiral of crime and abuse. Until the law is substantially altered, that will remain. Harm reduction programmes seek to address the needs of the users, and treat addiction as an illness rather than a crime.

In the UK, the principle form of harm reduction has manifested itself in the form of ‘needle exchange programmes’ – as the most addicted will inject themselves hypodermically with the drug, the various health risks associated with injecting (the spread of HIV and hepatitis, as well as more minor viral infections) are eliminated by providing addicts with clean, free needles.

The desire and the means by which the addicts obtain heroin remain unchanged, but proponents of the schemes argue that at least the health of the addicts is improved. The UK’s version of harm reduction is a watered-down version of the well-publicised ‘safe injection rooms’ of Europe and Vancouver. These provide a clean and safe environment in which users can inject – a nurse is nearby should any problems occur – and health issues are minimised by facilities for the safe disposal of used needles. Sydney’s version of the scheme has seen thousands of potentially fatal drug overdoses treated. Not a single life has been lost.

Switzerland and the Netherlands go further still with their ‘heroin maintenance’ programmes, in which addicts are provided with a state funded prescription to a clean, regulated source of heroin. The former country has a network of some 38 centres across the country, as is commonly regarded as a success. The method applied is an obvious extension of the scheme operating in the UK, and drug policy under the successive Labour governments has seen a move towards this style of treatment. How long it will be until a similar scheme is introduced – that addresses the very source of the problems caused by heroin addiction – remains to be seen.