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Harm reduction and prevention

Our Harm prevention and reduction Section was established in the early 90s, with our first mobile support units. Our goal was to limit the spread of HIV and the use of drugs. CAT was the first Cooperative in Tuscany to test this methodology. Our approach is focused on Risk Reduction, with the aim to protect health – without necessarily requiring our users to abstain from substance use or casual sex. This approach is founded on the recognition that everyone is free, and focuses on information on how to reduce risk of overdoses, diseases and accidents. The interventions on extreme marginality and street drug addiction, in particular, are among the oldest services provided by our Cooperative. Today, we still work on mobile units in the most disadvantaged areas. We follow the notion of outreach, i.e. taking the service to the streets, within the setting of the people whom we try to reach out to.