In many parts of the world the police response to the expanding illicit drug market has been to direct resources toward trying to reduce the supply of drugs and strictly enforcing laws that aim to deter their use. Despite these efforts, the availability of illicit drugs has remained virtually constant, and many people continue to consume illicit substances, often despite the knowing the potential risks.

Injecting drug use and HIV

Injecting drug use (with any type of drug) can be harmful. Sharing injecting equipment is particularly risky. Blood borne viruses such as HIV can spread easily amongst injecting drug users and then pass on to others through unprotected sex.

Because of the spread of HIV, prevention programs such as needle exchanges have been introduced. However these programs are not always welcomed in many communities. Some people (including police) may incorrectly believe that they will increase drug use or ‘send the wrong message’. Research shows however that many of the negative beliefs held about harm reduction are unfounded.

A collaborative response to harm reduction

For harm reduction to work effectively an ‘enabling environment’ is needed – that is, a whole of community approach must exist where harm reduction is supported by police and other agencies. It is important to note that harm reduction cannot, and will not, work without active support and leadership from police.

There is now greater awareness that the scope of the law enforcement role in addressing drug misuse needs to be more considered, and that in order to reduce the broader range of harms attributed to drug misuse police need to establish effective working relationships with agencies such as health departments and non-government organisations.

Law enforcement agencies are now in a unique position in that police play an important and active role in reducing the impact of drugs in the community through involvement in harm reduction approaches. Police can be extremely effective when they support and actively participate in harm reduction strategies.

Sharing knowledge and information

It is important, therefore, that police are aware of their responsibilities and implement policies and practices that help create an enabling environment. Police need to know how they can best support these initiatives that have been designed to address the harms associated with injecting drug use, in particular the spread of HIV.

It is also helpful for harm reduction program providers to understand the difficulties police experience when dealing with drug issues in their community. Often police are ‘caught in the middle’ with pressure from several sectors, including media, community and business groups, to remove the more visible aspects of the illicit drug market.

Police may also feel pressure to try and get their response right ‘one hundred percent of the time in one hundred percent of cases’ – which is impossible.