E is for Ecstasy by Nicholas Saunders

Appendix 1: Reference Section

117 The Reduction of Drug-Related Harm, a conceptual framework for theory, practice and research, by Russell Newcombe, from The reduction of drug-related harm, edited by O'Hare et al., (book) published by Routledge 1992

Assessing the harm that can be caused by a drug and the effectiveness of harm reduction policies is difficult because both the harm and benefits resulting from drug use - or abstention from use - must be taken into account and some of the benefits may not be evident in the short term. Risks and the effectiveness of risk reduction policies are easier to assess, and risk assessment can often be carried out through questionnaires. It is possible to separate the risk factors involved and to measure these by means of observation, interviews and questionnaires. Interpreting the outcome of harm reduction is complex and requires clearly defined objectives at the outset. Hypothetical examples are given.