27 February 2025
Recent policy shifts in the United States—including cuts to global health funding, freezing of foreign aid, the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and the censorship of scientific research—threaten our vision of a world where people who use drugs have equitable access to evidence-based care, treatment, and support.
Many of our members and partners have shared the profound impact that US executive actions are having on their organisations and the communities they serve. Clinic closures, medication shortages, staff cuts, and restricted access to care are not just bureaucratic and ideological shifts—they are matters of life and death for people who use drugs and other key populations.
We reaffirm our commitment to scientific integrity, evidence-based interventions, and amplifying the voices of those most affected by harmful policies.
Public and global health should never be dependent on the politics of one country, and we join global scientific, public health, and civil society communities in resisting actions that threaten human rights, research, healthcare access, and harm reduction efforts.
What can be done?
We call on:
- Research societies and professional organisations to reaffirm their commitment to human rights, science, harm reduction principles and funding, and DEI policies
- Academic and scientific publishers to speak out about and resist pressure to censor research and uphold peer-review integrity
- Everyone to share information that could help those who have been impacted and to include these in as many public forums as possible
- Our network members to speak out about how US executive actions impact underserved communities, advocate for strong, science-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs, and provide emergency care and support when possible
- Our network members to join international advocacy initiatives to advocate for sustained global solidarity in financing health and humanitarian programs
What INSHU is doing:
- The INSHU 2025 conference will focus on highlighting the consequences of these policy changes. We will convene a session provisionally titled ‘Sustaining Harm Reduction Amidst Political and Financial Uncertainty’, at INHSU 2025 in South Africa exploring:
- The impact of U.S. funding withdrawals/freezes on harm reduction services
- Regional funding shifts and gaps
- Strategies to sustain and scale harm reduction efforts
- We are compiling a list of resources for our website which will include initiatives such as the Emergency Fund for HIV Response from Aidsfonds. Eligible groups can apply for up to €15,000 to maintain access to treatment and prevention services with decisions made in as little as three working days. The resource list is available here
- We are actively seeking to engage with international groups dedicated to securing sustainable, long-term funding to support the communities we serve. We will amplify and endorse their statements wherever possible
Standing in solidarity
Collaboration and solidarity with the most marginalised is at the heart of what we do. In these times of crisis, our global community must support one another and those targeted by punitive actions. We must stand together to protect research, defend healthcare, and strengthen harm reduction and resilient health systems.
By working collectively with our partners and others resisting regressive policies and funding agendas, we will overcome these challenges.
If you have insights on how we can further support our global community, we encourage you to reach out at [email protected]
