Day 1, 14:00 - 15:30, ICUDDR, Contextual and Higher Education Challenges in the Field of Harm Reduction

Presented at Thessaloniki 2024 , on the 26th of June, 2024.

Description:

This symposium addresses the crucial theme of harm reduction (HR) within the context of drug consumption, emphasizing the pivotal role of universities in this field. It will provide a comprehensive and relevant insight into drug-related harm reduction, highlighting the significance of specialized drug addiction training in the university setting. The presented approaches are backed by theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence, promoting the active engagement of universities in the positive transformation of this global issue.

The proposed topics offer a comprehensive framework for the panel, exploring the concept of harm reduction and its relationship with preventing various negative consequences associated with drug use. It will address not only commonly considered aspects such as overdose prevention and bloodborne diseases but also underestimated harms like drug-related suicide, domestic violence, accidents, community impact, and more. The discussion will also focus on the availability of narcotics for medical and scientific purposes, underscoring the disparity in access to affordable opioids. Obstacles will be examined, including the lack of training for healthcare professionals in prescribing opioid analgesics and the absence of palliative care training in medical and nursing curricula.

Furthermore, the importance of incorporating harm reduction into university programs will be discussed, highlighting the transformative role of universities in combating inequities associated with drug consumption. Emphasis will be placed on the need for academic institutions to guide their strategies, teaching programs, and research towards inclusive and mutually beneficial collaboration with affected communities. Practical collaboration experiences between European universities and community networks will be shared to address systemic challenges in drug policies.

Moderator: Dr. Fran Calvo (⚑ Spain) - University of Barcelona, University of Girona

Presentations:

Xavier Ferrer - Drug-related harm reduction: a conceptual framework and a proposal for its teaching

Roberto Perez Gayo - European universities as catalysts for drug policy reform through harm reduction strategies

Jallal Toufiq - Availability of opioids: access, not excess