THE HARM REDUCTION STRUCTURES PREDICTED BY LAW (2001) IN PORTUGAL ARE:

•  Care Centres

• Shelters;

• Contact and Information Point;

• Mobile unit for prevention of infectious diseases;

• Methadone Programmes;

• Syringe Exchange Programs;

• Street Teams;

• Consumption rooms.

 Nowadays the structures implemented in the field on a national basis are:

•  Care Centres;

• Shelter;

• Methadone Programmes;

• Syringe Exchange Programs;

• Street Teams;

• Contact and Information Point.

 The model adopted for the implementation and setting up of Harm Reduction structures through de financial support of IDT is based on the fundamental principle of partnerships between the public and social sector.

This partnership expresses itself, either by the nature and field of intervention of entities promoting projects, or by articulation with different public services in different areas (Social Protection, Education, Employment, Housing, among others). The public-social partnership present in the creation and setting up of the Harm Reduction Interventions is based on the perception that civil society organizations with a territorial basis (IPSS) understand the specific expression of the phenomenon in the settings where they occur, and, that they are therefore the most suitable organizations for projects’ implementation.

 The understanding of Portugal is that Harm Reduction policies should not only help to prevent the risk of propagation of infectious and contagious diseases, but also to promote social inclusion and prevent delinquency, as well helping to create an environment in which drug addicts are motivated to attend treatment programmes.