Every user enrolled in the trial had to be at least 25 years old and a heroin user for at least five years. They also had to have failed to kick the habit in treatment programs at least twice before, including once in a methadone-treatment program. In short, these were people who had struggled with addiction for a long time. It remains extremely controversial, but in parts of Europe and Canada policy-makers have gently proposed harm reduction. The idea is that, even if people can’t get clean, they could still get help to live healthier and more productive lives, avoiding some of the worst health risks of heroin – like HIV and hepatitis C, which are both spread through dirty needles – and eliminating a major reason for crimes like theft and prostitution, used to fund drug habits.

See the full article from “TIME”