Historique
Article de Périodique
A tale of two epidemics: drugs harm reduction and tobacco harm reduction in the United Kingdom (2016)
Auteur(s) :
STIMSON, G. V.
Année
2016
Page(s) :
203-211
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs ; Tabac / Tobacco / e-cigarette
Discipline :
SAN (Santé publique / Public health)
Thésaurus géographique
ROYAUME-UNI
Thésaurus mots-clés
REDUCTION DES RISQUES ET DES DOMMAGES
;
TABAC
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
COMPARAISON
;
SANTE PUBLIQUE
;
E-CIGARETTE
Résumé :
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the response to HIV/AIDS and drug use (drugs harm reduction) with tobacco harm reduction.
Design/methodology/approach: Analysis of historical and contemporary sources, combined with personal knowledge of key stakeholders in the history and development of both fields.
Findings: Both drugs harm reduction and tobacco harm reduction share a similar objective - to reduce health risks for people who are unwilling or unable to stop using their drug of choice. Both also share a broader public health aim of helping people to make healthier decisions. Drugs harm reduction - as a response to HIV/AIDS - included the adoption of a wide range of radical harm reduction interventions and was a public health success. It became an established part of the professional Public Health agenda. In contrast the Public Health response to e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction has ranged from the negative to the cautious. A recent Public Health England report is exceptional for its endorsement of e-cigarettes.
Originality/value: Highlights contradictions in Public Health responses to drugs and tobacco; and that public health interventions can be implemented without and despite the contribution of professional Public Health.
Design/methodology/approach: Analysis of historical and contemporary sources, combined with personal knowledge of key stakeholders in the history and development of both fields.
Findings: Both drugs harm reduction and tobacco harm reduction share a similar objective - to reduce health risks for people who are unwilling or unable to stop using their drug of choice. Both also share a broader public health aim of helping people to make healthier decisions. Drugs harm reduction - as a response to HIV/AIDS - included the adoption of a wide range of radical harm reduction interventions and was a public health success. It became an established part of the professional Public Health agenda. In contrast the Public Health response to e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction has ranged from the negative to the cautious. A recent Public Health England report is exceptional for its endorsement of e-cigarettes.
Originality/value: Highlights contradictions in Public Health responses to drugs and tobacco; and that public health interventions can be implemented without and despite the contribution of professional Public Health.
Affiliation :
Imperial College London, London, UK