ID: HR25-1362
Presenting author: Paulina Cortez Licona
Presenting author biography:
Paulina Cortez Licona is the Project Coordinator and Researcher in the Public Health and Social Policy team at Harm Reduction International (HRI).
Paulina is a gender and drug policy specialist, researcher, and human rights advocate with a background in promoting social justice.
Mapping the global response: Findings from the Global State of Harm Reduction 2024
Paulina Cortez Licona, Gideon Lasco, Wangari Kimemia, Maria Plotko, Carolina Ahumada, Jorgelina Di Iorio, Isabelle Salameh, Elie Aaraj, Thomas Kerr, John Gobeil, Aniedi Akpan, Prince Bull- Luseni, Robert Csak, Triona Lenihan, David Geraghty, Tuari Potiki, Shawnee Brausch, Tracey Potiki, Charity Monareng, Ruby Rose Lawlor, Colleen Daniels
Background:
Since 2008, the Global State of Harm Reduction (GSHR) report has mapped the global harm reduction (HR) response, covering a range of health and social services for people who inject drugs, civil society and drug policy developments and funding information. This year, the report includes three new thematic chapters focused on harm reduction for Indigenous people, people in prison, and youth.
Methods:
Data was gathered using an expert global survey in five languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Russian between April and July 2024. Researchers invited stakeholders from HR organisations, academic institutions and networks of people who use drugs to respond. Researchers analysed data to identify developments in policy and implementation.
In addition, separate surveys were employed for each new thematic chapter to gather information on barriers to access and other relevant issues. Survey data was supplemented by a review of academic and grey literature and expert peer review.
Results:
The GSHR 2024, with 284 survey responses from 101 countries across nine regions, reports that two new countries have opened drug consumption rooms and six more with safer smoking kit distribution programmes. Additionally, there has been an increase of six countries offering opioid agonist therapy, and the number of countries implementing needle and syringe programs has increased by one. However, coverage and scale of HR services remain limited and access in unequal within and between regions.
Discussion:
To reduce the healthcare disparities among people who use drugs there is an urgent need to significantly increase HR service provision. Although there has been slow but steady progress, the global response remains inadequate, especially for neglected populations. International and national funding for essential services falls short of need in low- and middle-income countries requiring fundamental changes to fill the resourcing gap left by donor retreat.