Harm reduction in Argentina: a challenge to non-governmental organisations

• Published in: The International journal of drug policy 1999-02, Vol.10 (1), p.47-51
• Main Authors: Touzé, Graciela, Rossi, Diana, Goltzman, Paula, Cymerman, Pablo, Lasala, Gustavo, Sánchez, Ariel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Argentina; Drug abuse; Drug Addiction; Drug Injection; Drugs; Government Policy; Harm reduction; Health Policy; Non-governmental organisations; Policy; Policy Reform; Prevention; Proposals; Social Closure
• ISSN: 0955-3959; 1873-4758
• DOI: 10.1016/S0955-3959(98)00075-9

In Argentina, the prevailing drug policy is based on a ‘drug free society’ approach. It is worth pointing out that since the 1970s there has been an important influence by USA drug policy on drug policy in Argentina. We find a high incidence of HIV transmission among injecting drug users and high levels of social exclusion. In the Argentinean context NGOs can play a fundamental role in reversing the trend of segregation and discrimination towards drug users. Nowadays, to promote harm reduction as an HIV/AIDS preventive policy more than as a drug use policy is a better strategy, considering the climate of abstinence. We are a better condition than a few years ago to reinforce its application in Argentina because of the following factors: (1) UNAIDS support; (2) the regional impact of the International Summit ‘Large Urban Cities and their Drug Plans’ (Medellin, October 1997), and the IX International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm (São Paulo, March 1998); (3) the increasing diffusion about international harm reduction experiences in the mass media; (4) discussions with university research teams; and (5) the creation of the Latin-American Harm Reduction Network.