Why discriminate against young people? Remove age restrictions for harm reduction

By Mimi Melles - Youth RISE IWG

In 2011, globally young people account for 2,500 new HIV infections every day. For example, in countries such as Belarus, China, Italy, Poland, Spain and Russia, it is estimated that more than half of HIV infections are due to unsafe injecting, with a significant proportion among youth.

Youth activists around the world have often had the opportunity to discuss this very basic question: What are the failures to reducing HIV transmission among young people? And, why?

To reduce HIV transmission among children and young people who use drugs, one of the most apparent discriminatory policy failures is the strict legal age restriction to harm reduction which essentially blocks access to opioid substitution treatment and needle exchange programs.

Click here to read the full article.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.