Reflections on Welsh substance misuse services in a global context

Following the inspiration of attending the International Harm Reduction Association Conference 2009, a number of questions arise relating to substance misuse services in Wales. The debates of criminal justice and harm reduction approaches continue in everyday practice, from policy level to frontline interventions, and sight is often lost of what is really being achieved. The following paper sets out a number of observations relating to areas of international best practice and considers what lessons can be learned and translated into Welsh services. Innovative practices within Wales and the rest of the UK can be witnessed in criminal justice and health services, often with a harm reduction agenda bridging both, yet the impact on the lives of service users and communities needs greater recognition.