Why the world needs an international network of activists who use drugs.

We are part of the solution, not part of the problem!
And we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in other countries who often suffer great abuses of their human rights. We demand that our governments take action in our countries, but also at the international level, so that drug use is treated as a health issue first and foremost, and we are involved in decisions that affect our lives.

Please click here to down load the PDF version : http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ihrd/articles_publications/publications/nothingaboutus_20080603/Int%20Nothing%20About%20Us%20%28May%202008%29.pdf

Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Training Associates (HRPTA) is an organization offering counseling and psychotherapy to people with drug and alcohol

Harm Reduction
Psychotherapy
Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (HRP)
sees substance use problems as related
to personal meaning, social forces and
biology in a way that is unique for
each person. HRP seeks to create a
safe, collaborative context in which the
specific nature of the substance use
problem and the relationship between
substance use and others aspects of the
person are clarified. Both problematic
substance use and problems in these
other areas are addressed with goals
and strategies individually tailored to
the person.

Why Harm Reduction?
Research in the substance use field has
found that it is easier for some people to
begin counseling when specific goals
are not required to enter treatment.
Harm Reduction has evolved as an
innovative approach to helping people
with substance use problems without
requiring specific goals as a condition
for beginning treatment. HR aims to
support users in reducing the harm
associated with substance use without
requiring abstinence as a goal.
Abstinence is one possible outcome,
among others. At HRPTA we try to
match the full spectrum of goals and
strategies for change to the needs of
each individual.

Asian Parliamentarians to Discuss the Decriminalisation of Drug Use

19th February 2009
Asian Parliamentarians to Discuss the Decriminalisation of Drug Use at Harm Reduction 2009

At Harm Reduction 2009, the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) – in cooperation with UNAIDS – will organise a panel of parliamentarians to examine various issues related to the decriminalisation of drug use and wider debates on this issue. The session will share the positive experiences of some European countries in terms of drug decriminalisation in the hope of influencing and informing Asian parliamentarians and governments and encouraging them to develop new policies and more tolerant and realistic approaches towards drugs.

Asia has been dealing with psychoactive substances – such as heroin and cocaine – for many years, and has long faced the problems associated with the drug trade in terms of the health and safety of its population. Today, most of the Asian governments have committed to combat this problem – with the “War on Drugs” approach becoming the normal practice among nations. This is despite the persistent record of ineffectiveness and negative consequences that this approach has. There is a wide range of evidence against this approach – not least the increasing number of drug-related incarcerations across Asia each year.

As a result of the failure of existing drug policies, numerous academics and advocates have been lobbying Asian governments to pay more attention to the decriminalisation of drug users – one of the most profound ways to eliminate drug-related harms to society. It is strongly suggested that, if Asian governments adopt these more rational approach, problems such as drug trafficking, organised crime, HIV/AIDS and the violation of human rights would be also decreased.

Drug use can leave a well documented trail of destruction and damage, not only to the drug user but also to their families and the wider community. Yet politicians are very reluctant to discuss and debate this issue. Given the widespread ignorance about drug use, it is not surprising that parliamentarians generally feel fearful of the public reaction to decriminalisation. However, in certain cases where medical approaches have been properly implemented, their public acceptance has been forthcoming – and this could be extended to selective decriminalisation efforts when the benefits are apparent and are properly explained.

EDITORS NOTE: Lets hope and welcome similar efforts in Africa especially South Africa with the elections coming up. Politicians commonly manipulate or use emotional issues such as the current methamphetamine epidemic to "win over the people" with zero tolerance policies on drugs. This comes out of total ignorance and a ruthless attempt to gain the favor and votes of the people. All it does is bring more pain and misery to the people directly affected; those profiting are far away from the drugs and those higher up on the food chain shoot back!