Health promotion and prevention strategies, including policies, must address the full continuum of risk of developing substance abuse problems, and will be more effective to the extent that they involve community partnerships. Finally, a statement of the guiding principles for alcohol and other drug policy would be incomplete without reference to fact that there are distinct limits to substance abuse programs and policy which must be recognized. Drug abuse should be viewed as the symptom, not the cause. Preamble Substance abuse is a serious heath and social problem. Substance abuse policy should be goal oriented.
Policy needs to balance the benefits with the costs of carrying out the policy.
Substance abuse policy is most likely to be effective when it involves partnerships and a sense of ownership by all of those involved. Guiding Principles 1. The goal of drug abuse policy should be to reduce the use of drugs by the first priority is to decrease the negative consequences of drug use. The primary goal of harm reduction is defined as a reduction, through direct or indirect means, of the health and social problems associated with the use and control of alcohol and other drugs among all individuals, families and communities. In many circumstances it is preferable to set a hierarchy of goals, with more immediate and realistic goals set as first priorities to be achieved in steps toward risk-free use or, if appropriate, abstinence.