Sociopolitical dimension of reducing harm and risk in Spain

Theme: The socio-political dimension of risk and harm reduction strategies, as responsible
for conceptual confusion and as limiting intervention practices.
Objective: To analyse the technical and socio-political implications of harm and risk reduction.
Methodology: Analysis of discourse and review of literature sources.
Conclusions: Differentiating between risk and harm reduction is a peculiarity of the Spanish
language resulting from the political need to differentiate actions aimed at the recreational
consumer population from socially excluded consumers. The spread of HIV/AIDS brought
about institutionalization of harm reduction in terms of health care, but the political dimension
was relegated to a secondary role. Standardized risk reduction strategies are able to transform
drug policies by recognizing prohibition as responsible for the most of the harm and to improve
consumers’ quality of life through Defending Human Rights.