Welcome to the portal of the EU funded project: “Improving Harm Reduction, a Red Cross approach in Europe”, Ref.: JLS/2007/DPIP-1/36 30-CE-0227262/00-47.

The portal is designed to support the implementation of the project “Improving Harm Reduction, a Red Cross approach in Europe” and to disseminate project’s results. It is also meant as a tool to spread best practices in the field, as well as a useful source of information for those who want to get deeper insights on harm reduction and drug related issues, and identify more effective ways to tackle the drug problem.

Fondazione Villa Maraini onlus is the project’s Team leader, engaged since 1976 in dealing with drug users. The project will promote Villa Maraini’s consolidated and integrated response to the drug problem, which consists in the provision of a wide range of health and social services for drug users, from low-threshold services for marginalized drug users to social reintegration programmes for ex-drug users.

Final beneficiaries of the project are poly-drug and intravenous drug users, youth, vulnerable groups and people living in socially disadvantaged areas.

This project aims at preventing drug use, reducing drug-related harm and promoting substitution treatments. The project also aims at the creation of a multidisciplinary network of Red Cross National Societies, the expansion of the knowledge base and raising awareness of the social and health problems caused by substance abuse.

Through training activities, the project aims at improving the skills, promoting the exchange of information and the identification and dissemination of good practices on drug prevention, abuse treatment and harm reduction. Great importance is also given to advocacy activities, which aim at raising awareness and promoting a better understanding of the health and social problems caused by drug use and to encourage an open dialogue with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. In this context, the involvement of civil society and the creation of a multidisciplinary network are deemed of crucial importance for the successful outcome of the project. The activity will also support operational activities undertaken by beneficiary Red Cross National Societies aimed at preventing drug use, and at the reduction of drug-related harm. Interventions will include information campaigns, needle and syringe exchange programmes, provision of condoms, peer education, counselling and provision of primary health care.

The project is based on a new and innovative approach to the drug problem, as a key public health issue: the partnership, in line with the recent stances also expressed by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, advocates for a humanitarian approach to the drug problem, based on a just and fair treatment of drug users, free from ideology, force, stigmatization and discrimination. We believe that drug use problems can not be solved simply by criminal justice initiatives. Punitive action drives the people most in need of prevention and care services underground.

This innovative approach is also based on peer education and active involvement of drug users and the community, as an effective, proven method for reaching people who use drugs in their own environment and establishing relationships which can be broadened through drug users involvement in programme development and implementation.