The dangers of harm minimisation.(Australia's National Drug Strategic Plan)

THE PRINCIPLE of "harm minimisation" has underpinned the national drag offensive since 1985. In the review document The National Drug Strategic Plan 1993-97, produced by the National Drug Strategy Committee, harm minimisation is described as follows:

 
   Harm Minimisation is an approach that aims to reduce the adverse health, 
   social and economic consequences of alcohol and other drugs by minimising 
   or limiting the harms and hazards of drug use for both the community and 
   the individual without necessarily eliminating use. 

The concept of harm minimisation or harm reduction focuses on the choices of the individual drug user and the belief that the ...