Harm Reduction programs are part of the public health activities adopted by the Croatian Parliament in 1996, and supported by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Needle Exchange Project run by Croatian Red Cross started in Zagreb and Zadar in 1998 and has been implemented ever since.



The activities include: contact with active injecting drug users; collecting the used needles and syringes; distribution of needles and syringes; providing and sending to HIV testing (VTC), counselling for clients (including psychotherapy); education for clients; changing of life-style.





The main goal of the project is to reduce harm caused by drug abuse and to minimize the risk of Hepatitis C and AIDS infections among the high risk group namely injecting drug users.

CRC is active in ERNA (European Red Cross/Red Crescent network on HIV/AIDS). CRC is a cooperative assistant of “Villa Maraini” Foundation in Rome (Italy) for providing training courses and modules for Harm Reduction for all interested National Societies – IFRC members.