Time for Change Survey and Report

17 Support for Reforms HARM REDUCTION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS Investment in harm reduction programs Overall, there is very strong support for greater investment in harm reduction programs in Australia, with 96.5% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing. Harm reduction is a person-centred philosophy and practice that aims to reduce the harms that may be associated with drug use. Family members of someone who uses drugs had the highest level of support (98.8%), followed closely by professionals (97.6%), people who use drugs (97.4%), friends of someone who uses drugs (97.3%), and students and/or young people (97.1%; see Figure 2). This high support from young people was also consistent with SSDP Australia’s recent #BeHeardNotHarmed Survey for young adults who party and use drugs, with 95% of respondents indicating support for the effectiveness of harm reduction services in promoting safer drug use . 6 Figure 2. Support for greater investment in harm reduction programs in Australia Some differences in support for investment in harm reduction were statistically significant across demographics: ● There was significantly more support from VIC residents in comparison to other states/territories. ● There was also significantly more support among respondents who identified as people who use drugs, or who identified as friends of someone who uses drugs, in comparison to people who did not identify these ways. 6 Stronach O, Farah B & Webb P (2024) ‘#BeHeardNotHarmed National Survey Report.’ Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia . Available here.