The rational conclusion from these findings would be to implement harm reduction programs and policies as swiftly as possible in order to help stem the tidal wave of HIV infections. It was quite apparent, however, that attempts to practice harm reduction are still hampered in many regions, including North America, by lack of political will. Harm reduction is viewed as politically incorrect because it works with users who cannot or will not stop using drugs. It is also equated, quite erroneously, with support for drug legalization, and therefore as a threat to Prohibition, the official drug policy of the United States. We, the Global Voice on Reduction of Drug Related Harm, call upon the United Nations, governments and communities throughout the world to support harm reduction approaches and to thereby help to reduce the spread of HIV and other infections among drug users, their partners and their communities.
Harm reduction is effective, inexpensive and, above all, it is humane.