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Substance Use & Addiction: Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is defined as an approach aimed at reducing the risks and harmful effects associated with substance use and addictive behaviours for the individual, the community and society as a whole, without requiring abstinence. Harm reduction is deemed a realistic, pragmatic, humane and successful approach to addressing issues of substance use. The main priority is to decrease the extent of physical, social and economic harms to the person using substances, rather than focusing on the elimination of drug use.

Harm reduction aims first to reduce the negative consequences of substance use, recognizing that abstinence may be neither a realistic nor a desirable goal for some users, especially in the short term. The use of substances is accepted as a fact and focus is placed on reducing harm while use continues. A harm reduction approach to a person's substance use in the short term does not rule out abstinence in the longer term. Harm reduction approaches ar...e often the first step towards the eventual cessation of substance use.

Harm reduction draws on principles of health promotion and social justice. It reduces the stigma of substance use, and enhances health and well-being. In some cases, reduction in substance use may be one of the most effective forms of harm reduction. In others, alteration to the mode of use may be more effective. The essence of harm reduction is that even if a person is not willing to give up their use of substances, they should be assisted in reducing harm to themselves, and others. At any point along the spectrum, it is possible to intervene in a way that reduces existing harm and prevents further harm. Such interventions aim to heal the person as a whole. Rather than just addressing substance use, treatment interventions also need to address other problems that may have either led to or arisen from the use of substances.

The path to recovery is varied. Providing simple information such as the amount of alcohol in a standard serving of wine, beer, and spirits can help people make decisions about what and how much they drink. Motivational interviewing, a special counselling technique, can support change in small increments, over time. At a more fundamental level, people may need to hear the message that it matters whether they live or die, and therefore it matters that they use clean needles and safer practices. Other people may need to secure basic needs like safe housing and food before they can even contemplate other changes. Evidence suggests treatment needs to be individualized and grounded in the real life circumstances and situation of a substance user.

AUTHOR: Gaetz, Stephen, (2008) Homeless Hub. [Show More][Show Less]


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A Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) initiative. The CHRN has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada