Psychoactive Drugs and Harm Reduction

This book is based on the presentations given by authorities in the drugs field at the Third International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm held in Melbourne, Australia in March 1992. The keynote addresses at the conference form the kernel of the book. Other chapters were chosen from submitted papers, symposia and other types of presentation. There is some confusion at present as to what harm reduction means, what activities it can be said to include and what evidence exists for the effectiveness of these activities. This book aims to set out the main principles of harm reduction and how it is applied to different problems om different parts of the world.