Researching self help drug treatment: collaboration and conflict in the age of harm reduction

While there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of drug treatment in self help groups there are many points of divergence between the philosophies traditionally espoused by these groups and those advocated within harm reduction policies. In this paper we examine some of the differences between self help and harm reduction approaches. We argue that (in common with other treatment modalities) self help groups have altered and developed in response to changing community expectations and that this process should be expected to continue. We report on our ongoing exploration of research partnerships with self help group members focusing particularly upon research conducted in collaboration with self help groups in Victoria. We argue that research partnerships have advantages for both parties. These partnerships have the potential to better inform researchers of developments in the self help community (including the practices of active drug users). Research partnerships also encourage better understanding among self help group members of some of the potential problems that, as research has indicated, may be associated with certain self help group practices. We advocate such understanding as a potentially effective means of encouraging the appropriate development and refinement of self help group practices in line with harm reduction principals.