Law Enforcement, Drug Policy and Harm Reduction Workshop

Aside from the users of drugs and their families, no group is more affected by current illicit drug policies than are police. The use of and dependence on illicit drugs are the result of social and health determinants, especially mental health issues, and lead to social and health adverse consequences.

The prevention of harms associated with the use of illicit drugs, and the response to their use and associated harm, is the province of both the law enforcement and the public health sectors.

There is often, however, a gulf between law enforcement policy and practice and public health policy and practice.

This workshop continues the series of meetings at the annual LEPH conferences to explore issues of common interest to both sectors, to share experiences and perspectives, examine evidence about innovative approaches that achieve both public health goals and optimize community safety, and make recommendations about effective and humane approaches.

As a Public Health conference, we seek to find how police can better be included as part of the public health workforce and contribute to the achievement of public health goals, which are grounded in human rights, community safety and public security.

This workshop is proudly organised by GLEPHA’s Special Interest Group on Law Enforcement and Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and Transform Drug Policy Foundation.