Harm reduction model

'Harm Reduction Model'

This is an academic term that typically refers to a legal model of enforcement. The Harm Reduction Model essentially states that drug useage (also other crimes, usually 'social' ones)should be treated as a health concern, and not as a crime. This is in direct opposition to the Punitive Model (AKA incarceration model), but could be made compatible (temporarily during a transitional period) with Libertarian ideas of Restorative Justice Model explained Official Position on Justice (http://wiki.ontariolibertarian.ca/index.php?title=Prep:Official_Position_on_Justice).

Canada since the 1980's, until the Harper Government, had been moving away from United States style punitive system, and toward the Harm Reduction Model

Specific Characteristics

-Sentences include treatment and or going to drug counseling (Some progressive American districts do this even for cannabis, instead of jail)

-focused on 'rehabilitation', not restitution or punishment or deterrence

-Distributes information about healthy practices for useing drugs

-Compassion clubs (http://vaporcentral.com/) and needle exchanges