Taiwan - Harm reduction for young people

Pascal Tanguay, Communications Manager at the Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN) delivered a keynote address at the 2009 Asia Pacific Anti-Drug Conference, focusing this year on adolescent care, on 9 September in Taipei, Taiwan. The presentation on harm reduction strategies for young people was developed with the support of YouthRISE and delivered with success to an audience consisting mostly of educators. The presentation elicited interest from the audience - Taiwan's two-year old harm reduction programme has already been effective in reducing HIV transmission among IDUs and has led to a decrease in crime rates. Other noteworthy speakers at the event included Ta-Kuang Francis Chang, Chief Probation Officer of the Taiwan Taipei District Court; Jing-Lan Maria Chang, Chairman of the Education Committee of the Anti-Drug Campaign Association, and Dr. Shu Lian Wen, Director of Drug Addiction Department, Taipei City Hospital. For more information about the Anti-Drugs Campaign Association, visit www.antidrug.org.tw.