I firmly believe it is not only good in theory but possible to practice successfully. However, if the concept of harm reduction acknowledges that drug use will continue in society, and embraces various strategies and approaches to reducing harm caused by drugs, it is possible to practice successfully. Professor Eric Single suggests the Australian AOD field adopts the all-encompassing concept of harm minimisation, where anything aimed at reducing harm is included as harm reduction . Dr Alex Wodak and Professor Bill Saunders suggest the term reducing harm to describe any measures which decrease the negative consequences of drug use, and the term harm reduction for programs and policies which attempt to reduce the harm and negative consequences of drug use, but do not attempt to reduce consumption. Supply control aims to reduce supply or restrict access to drugs.
Methods employed include legislation, regulation and law enforcement.
Demand reduction aims to reduce the demand and desire to use drugs through education, health promotion, treatment services and providing alternative activities to drug use. Why harm reduction is appropriate Aiming to reduce harm is appropriate whether drugs are legally available, or illicit, because it is concerned with the reduction of harm associated with substance use, which may be reducing the amount of actual use right through to ensuring that if a substance is used it is done safely, and that the user minimises the risks associated with the drug-taking by controlling the setting, dose, safety of equipment associated with the substance used, and the people in company. Research has confirmed that strategies which are based on harm minimisation principles are more effective than previous approaches which were focused only on abstinence. Within a harm minimisation approach it is possible to discourage the unnecessary use of drugs while still addressing the reality that people will use drugs. Harm reduction programs are designed to remove barriers to treatment access.