Drug use is constantly increasing at a global scale. Many risks of drug use can be reduced if drug policy follows the principle of Harm Reduction and focuses on the health and safety of the individual. Learn more about how Harm Reduction measures save lives in this (5 minute) video and on the GPDPD website.

Minimising the harm of drug use: a health-oriented approach
Drug use posed numerous risks, both to individuals and society. To address these risks effectively, the GPDPD is committed to promoting a health-oriented drug policy worldwide. Germany's implementation of Harm Reduction measures serves as a fundamental model for this approach.

In 2020, 284 million people worldwide engaged in illicit substance use, with 13.6% of them grappling with addiction, which gravely threatens their well-being. Over 11 million individuals resort to injecting drugs, half of whom live with hepatitis C, and one in eight with HIV. The consequences of using contaminated syringes can have lifelong implications. Psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, coupled with social isolation, further compound the harms caused by drug use. Shockingly, in 2019 alone, drug use claimed the lives of 494,000 people globally...