The Continuum Nobody Funds Whole

This resource examines the consequences of treating harm reduction and recovery services as competing policy approaches rather than as parts of a single continuum of care. Through comparisons between Alberta, Oregon, Scotland, and Portugal, it argues that drug policy outcomes are shaped less by ideological choices and more by whether the full spectrum of support, from overdose prevention and naloxone distribution to treatment and long-term recovery services, is adequately funded and connected.

Drawing on published research, government data, and policy analysis, the article explores the effects of service closures, decriminalisation without treatment investment, funding reductions, and integrated public health approaches. It concludes that systems are most vulnerable when resources are concentrated on one part of the continuum while other essential components are neglected, limiting both immediate harm reduction and pathways to recovery.

References and links to original sources are included throughout the article.