Harm reduction in Australia: has it worked? A review

Hawks, David; Lenton, Simon

doi:10.1080/09595239500185381

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…According to Harwood, Hubbard, Collins, and Rachal (1998), USD4 in economic benefit can be accrued for every USD1 spent on methadone treatment. Financial benefits of the harm reduction program have been addressed by several other sources as well (Emmanuelli et al, 2006;Hawks & Lenton, 1995;Marsch, 1998;The World Bank, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methadone Maintenance Therapy Outcomes in Iran

Noori¹,

Narenjiha²,

Aghabakhshi³

et al. 2012

Substance Use & Misuse

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Given the large number of HIV-positive cases among IDUs and considering that injection drug use is the main spreading factor for HIV, MMT would play a major role in controlling the HIV epidemic through reduction of heroin injection and the risk behaviors related to it. High inflation rate, lack of interorganization coordination, budget limitation, and no follow-up were the most important limitations of this study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methadone Maintenance Therapy Outcomes in Iran

Noori¹,

Narenjiha²,

Aghabakhshi³

et al. 2012

Substance Use & Misuse

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“…In Australia, an early review by Hawks & Lenton [183 summarised the changes in drug use and harms over a 10-year period in Australian history, from when harm minimisation was introduced as the national policy approach. They concluded that there is evidence for reductions in tobacco and alcohol consumption, reductions in risk behaviour among injecting drug users, low prevalence of HIV and low numbers of AIDS cases [183].…”

Section: Evaluation Of Harm Reduction As a Policy Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the efficacy and effectiveness of harm reduction strategies for alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs

Ritter

Cameron

2006

Drug and Alcohol Review

222

131

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Harm reduction is both a policy approach and used to describe a specific set of interventions. These interventions aim to reduce the harms associated with drug use. Employing a strict definition of harm reduction, evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug harm reduction interventions were reviewed. Systematic searches of the published literature were undertaken. Studies were included if they provided evaluation data (pre-post, or control group comparisons). More than 650 articles were included in the review. The majority of the literature concerned illicit drugs. For alcohol, harm reduction interventions to reduce road trauma are well-founded in evidence. Otherwise, there is limited research to support the efficacy and effectiveness of other alcohol harm reduction interventions. For tobacco, the area is controversial but promising new products that reduce the harms associated with smoking are being developed. In the area of illicit drugs there is solid efficacy, effectiveness and economic data to support needle syringe programmes and outreach programmes. There is limited published evidence to date for other harm reduction interventions such as non-injecting routes of administration, brief interventions and emerging positive evidence for supervised injecting facilities. There is sufficient evidence to support the wide-spread adoption of harm reduction interventions and to use harm reduction as an overarching policy approach in relation to illicit drugs. The same cannot be concluded for alcohol or tobacco. Research at a broad policy level is required, especially in light of the failure by many policy makers to adopt cost-effective harm reduction interventions.

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“…Research indicates that harm reduction strategies such as needle exchange and methadone maintenance are associated with reductions in: drug use [1], disease [2-4], crime [2,5] unsafe injection behaviors [1,5], drug related deaths [2], and improvements in employment and interpersonal relationships among IV drug users [5]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to the dissemination of four harm reduction strategies: a survey of addiction treatment providers in Ontario

Hobden

Cunningham

2006

Harm Reduct J

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A sample of service providers at addictions agencies' in Ontario were interviewed by telephone to assess attitudes toward, anticipated internal and external barriers to implementing, and expected benefits of four harm reduction strategies: needle exchange, moderate drinking goals, methadone treatment, and provision of free condoms to clients. Respondents were also asked to define harm reduction, list its most important elements, and describe what they find most troubling and most appealing about harm reduction. Attitudes toward harm reduction in general and the services provided at each agency were also assessed. Results indicated that the service providers surveyed had positive attitudes toward each of the four harm reduction strategies and harm reduction in general, and the majority of respondents were aware of the benefits associated with each strategy. Almost all of the agencies surveyed allowed for moderate drinking outcomes in the treatment of alcohol problems, and most agencies provided free condoms to clients. In terms of barriers, anticipated negative community reaction to needle exchange, methadone treatment, and free condoms was a major concern for the majority of respondents. Lack of staff, of funding, or anticipated staff resistance were also cited as potential barriers to introducing these strategies. In the case of methadone maintenance, the unavailability of a qualified physician was listed as the primary constraint. Implications for future efforts directed at encouraging the adoption of these strategies and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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Harm reduction in Australia: has it worked? A review

Cited by 17 publications

References 46 publications

Methadone Maintenance Therapy Outcomes in Iran

Methadone Maintenance Therapy Outcomes in Iran

A review of the efficacy and effectiveness of harm reduction strategies for alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs

Barriers to the dissemination of four harm reduction strategies: a survey of addiction treatment providers in Ontario

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