Evaluating harm-reduction interventions. Guidelines for the implementation of good evaluation practices

The purpose of this committee is to assess drug addict users' needs and improve public health and social responses (Decree of 26th October 2006). 

It was produced under the overall coordination of the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addictions (OFDT) by the working group appointed by the Addictions Committee to submit recommendations for evaluation in the harm reduction field. This working group brought together representatives from the health authorities, health professionals and harm reduction outreach practitioners. 

It carried out its work by applying the recommendations for good evaluation practices defined by the National Office for the Quality and Evaluation of Care and Social Services and Centres (ANESM). It proposes adapting the ANESM's official recommendations in order that these may be used in the field of harm reduction for drug users. 

The content of this document also draws upon the evaluation-specific recommendations of various international bodies (EMCDDA, WHO, UNODC).

These guidelines are accompanied by a fold-out diagram* presenting the logic model or theory of action for the harm reduction interventions. It has been designed to supply key stakeholders with a useful tool to help them formulate potential evaluation questions of interest and define their assessment framework.

* For the best legibility of the diagram (see appendix), printing must be done in A1 format (poster format).