We aim to maximize doctors' impact on drug policies of national
governments and international agencies that directly and indirectly
affect
- the availability of voluntary evidence-based treatments for
those who need and want it. We advocate for people who use drugs to
be treated with respect, and for those who have drug problems, that
their care be grounded in health not criminal justice;
- the spread of HIV, HBV, HCV, and TB infections;
- access to harm reduction tools that prevent the spread of these
diseases and the morbidity and mortality associated with them, such
as the distribution of clean needles and other injecting and
smoking equipment, condoms, overdose prevention including naloxone,
drug treatment, including opioid substitution treatment, and safer
drug use facilities;
- access to essential opioid medications for the treatment of
pain as well as dependency.
"Treat problematic drug use as a health, not criminal
issue"
We believe that enhanced participation of the medical profession
in the debate on drug policy will help shift policies toward
health, science, human rights and compassion.
We work with our partners in harm reduction, health
(particularly HIV, HCV, HBV, TB, drug dependency and chronic pain
networks) and drug policy reform networks on advocacy and education
campaigns. See our publications page for some examples of our work
IDHDP also offers
support to doctors in their home countries or regions by providing
a forum for doctors to seek and get help from experienced
colleagues, making available an action kit for our members to use,
including an IDHDP
slide presentation, relevant clinical and policy
resources and research to assist them in promoting best
practices, harm reduction and healthy drug policies.
If you are a doctor and agree with our aims please join IDHDP
free and tell us what
issues you would like us to address.
Click here
to read our latest newsletter.
Discuss
the hot topics below on the IDHDP forums
- Networking with members in Yemen - discuss here
- Help expose the scandal of HCV in people who use drugs -
discuss
here
- What is your view on decriminalisation? discuss
here
- Are our drug policies really working? discuss
here