10th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug related Harm opens its doors

Sunday, 21 March 1999

Geneva, Switzerland

President of the Swiss Confederation Ruth Dreifuss opened the 10th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug related Harm (IRHC) by describing the controversial approach to reducing the impact of drugs in Switzerland.

The Opening Ceremony was presided by Doctor Dominique Hausser on Sunday evening in Geneva. Also present were Bernard Kouchner, State Secretary of Health and Social Affairs, France; Pat O'Hare, Director of the IHRA, Peter Piot, Director of UNAIDS; Guy-Olivier Segond, Vice President of Geneva and Minister of Health and Social Affairs.

Harm reduction is an often-controversial approach to the issues surrounding drug use that seeks to prevent illness without condemning those at risk -- and to treat illness without condemning those who are ill.

"No country can claim to have resolved the problems linked to addiction to drugs," Dreifuss asserted to the audience of scientists, social workers, politicians and drug users. The President of the Confederation defended Switzerland's "Four-Pillar Strategy" toward legal and illegal drug use. Prevention of drug use, harm reduction, therapy, and legal control are all integral parts of an effective national approach that has been chosen by the government, the Swiss Parliament, and by popular vote.

The Federal Counsellor confirmed her commitment to reforming the Swiss Federal laws on intoxicants as detailed in the "Four Pillar Strategy". Switzerland, like all countries, is "confronted by the difficulty of balancing prohibition and harm reduction," Dreifuss added.

"..it is not a lack of resources, but a lack of political will," criticised Peter Piot, Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Piot also pointed out the dramatic link between drug use and HIV/AIDS infection and stressed that efforts need to focus on prevention, especially for women and developing countries.

Bernard Kouchner reviewed the evolution of the French approach to the issues concerning illegal and legal drugs. He reminded the audience of the catastrophic situation existing in France when he took office in 1992 as State Secretary of Health and Social Affairs. He detailed the progress which led to the publication of the groundbreaking Roch report on toxic substances. Based on the report, alcohol and tobacco are now considered addictive drugs that fall into the domain of the Harm Reduction Movement.

Dr. Hausser closed the Conference by invoking the inspiration of Jonathan Mann, the former Director of WHO's Global Programme on HIV/AIDS, who was killed in last year's tragic Swissair 111 accident.