The goals of the International Federation of Harm Reduction in Healthcare are focused on the following:

• increased involvement of civil society in local, national and international efforts for reduction of economic, social, and medical risks of developing addictions of psychoactive substances and behavioral addictions;
• consolidation and strengthening of the civil society’s efforts to implement harm reduction programs or projects associated with the use of addictive substances or behavioral addictions;
• establishment of partnership with other national and international organizations, the goals and objectives of which are harm reduction in healthcare;
• strengthening and promotion of cooperation between the civil society and state authorities at local, national, and international level.

Objectives and ways to achieve the goals:

• development harm reduction programs or projects for drugs, alcohol and tobacco addictions and behavioral addictions at private, public, and social levels;
• provision of specialized assistance (treatment, psychological counselling, social and legal assistance) to persons suffering from drugs, alcohol, tobacco and food addiction, and to their families;
• development of medical, legal, and social studies and researches on behalf of the state and private institutions to address the challenges they face in harm reduction for drugs, alcohol, tobacco and food addictions;
• development of local, national, and international projects, programs, and legislative studies; raising funds for the implementation of such programs and projects;
• promotion of dialogue within and between different civil society organizations (at local, national, and international level) to improve the formulation, implementation and evaluation of harm reduction policy decisions;
• provision of specific and actual information on reinforcement of the role of civil society in combating the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other products causing addiction;
• establishment of an effective partnership for harm reduction between the civil society and national and international institutions and bodies with a special focus on scientific and social contributions;
• strengthening and diversification of responsibility of the national and international organizations for cooperation in reduction of risks and consequences of use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other products causing the addiction;
• analysis and studying of the psychological and psychosocial factors of addiction, risk behavior, and the opportunity to request assistance in the light of significant differences in the level and way of consumption between men and women; establishment of own databases of social types and categories;
• use of partnerships with mass media and other interested bodies and agencies, including the use of electronic means for dissemination of scientific information on the risks of use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other products causing the addiction and deteriorating physical and mental health;
• monitoring the implementation of regulations of the national and international institutions, fulfillment of obligations and standards of international law for reduction of risks and consequences of the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other products causing the addiction;
• preparation of reports and complaints associated with structural and procedural drawbacks revealed in operation and implementation of harm reduction measures;
• public awareness of the risks of use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other products causing the addiction at the national and international level, as well as of the harm reduction policy, actions, and strategies;
• partnership with individuals and legal entities to raise funds directly or through economic agents, institutions, associations, and funds or local, state or private bodies and agencies practicing similar activity and pursuing similar goals and interests;
• consolidation of positive experience, establishment of rules, and adoption of good practice and standards of harm reduction for drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other products causing the addiction;
• creation of treatment and rehabilitation, socialization, and social reintegration centers for persons with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, medicinal, and food addictions (notorious five addictions);
• creation of centers for initial and continuous training of specialists and volunteers for the operation in state and private institutions;
• granting of scholarships;
• issuance of own specialized publications.

To that end, the International Federation of Harm Reduction in Healthcare may:

• implement harm reduction programs and projects for drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and behavioral addictions at individual, public, and social levels;
• provide specialized assistance (treatment, psychological counselling, social and legal assistance) to persons suffering from drugs, alcohol, tobacco and food addiction, and to their families;
• diagnose the “notorious five addictions” at local, national, and international level in form of reports, studies, and researches;
• promote development of medical, legal, and social studies and researches to help public and private institutions in addressing the challenges they face in harm reduction for drugs, alcohol, tobacco and food;
• carry out joint activities (sharing of experience, joint projects, seminars, and other meetings) with similar national and international organizations to reduce the risks and consequences of use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other products causing the addiction;
• control activity of the national and international institutions on implementation of regulations, fulfillment of obligations, and adherence to the standards of international law for reduction of the risks and consequences of the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other products causing the addiction;
• prepare reports and reclamations regarding the structural and procedural drawbacks revealed in operation and implementation of relevant harm reduction measures;
• inform the public on the risks of use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other products causing the addiction at the national and international level, as well as on harm reduction policy, actions, and strategies;
• establish contacts, partnerships, and cooperation or associations, without any limitations, with economic agents, establishments, bodies, associations, funds, unions, federations, as well as other individuals and/or legal entities that may support the activity of the Federation;
• create private institutions specialized in counselling, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and re-socialization of persons with psychoactive substance addictions and behavioral addictions;
• organize special training courses for persons operating in harm reduction domain (lawyers, physicians, social workers, psychologists, educators, journalists, and other related specialties) to provide necessary staff for own organization or for other specialized public or private, national and international bodies;
• open new local, national and/or international branches of the Federation. Any types of activity of the Federation will be practiced according to the statutory and regulatory provisions effective in the country where it practices its activity;
• organize shows, raffles, counselling actions, awareness-raising and promotional campaigns, including through drafting of publications and organizing other similar campaigns and events according to the law to raise funds required for financing its specific activity; to facilitate access to private and public resources;
• raise funds that will be used directly or will be provided to other organizations for implementation of harm reduction programs or projects;
• finance specific measures, projects, and programs at its own expense or in cooperation with any individuals or legal entities;
• award scholarships.