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Abstract |
With the limited exception of HIV/AIDS prevention, harm minimisation in the UK has focused on the harm that drug users may do to themselves. This article explains how harm minimisation within Hammersmith and Fulham (part of inner London ) has now begun to address wider issues. Hammersmith and Fulham has the highest estimate HIV+ rate of any local authority area in the UK, and approximately 4000 injecting drug users. Spending on HIV prevention and services for people with HIV/AIDS is the highest in the UK . Police estimate that more than half of all acquisitive crime in the area is committed to fund drug purchases. Public services in the health, criminal justice, education, housing and social fields have formed an unusually close partnership to address these problems. This is generating rapid changes in service provision, including moves away from prosecution of people in possession of any drug for their own use, and moves to attract many more users into treatment by greatly extending prescribing practice. The overall aims of harm minimisation in the area now include reduction of crime and reduction of the illicit drug market alongside minimisation of harm to drug users themselves. |
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