Harm reduction is a supportive and personalized way to help people transition from active substance misuse to living a life that is no longer focused on getting and staying under the influence of any substance.
What Is Harm Reduction?
“Harm reduction” is a philosophy on care that aims to reduce the harms of a risky behavior instead of denouncing the behavior altogether. It is a “meet the person where they live” approach to managing harmful use of drugs and alcohol.
For example, a needle exchange facility that gives a patient clean needles to inject their drugs is using a “harm reduction model” because instead of denouncing drug use altogether, they are helping to reduce any harm that comes from the dangerous behavior of injecting drugs.
Another example might be medications for opioid use disorder: Instead of denouncing the use of any and all opioids like methadone or suboxone, we instead use them in place of full opioids because they are generally much safer.
The goal of “harm reduction” is to reduce the harm caused by substance misuse rather than enforce a “cold turkey” or “complete abstinence” detox approach. [1]
Understanding the Harm Reduction Model
The four principles of harm reduction are as follows:[1]
- People who use drugs are entitled to treatment. OUD is a medical condition that has evidence based treatments. Medical providers should treat their patients with both compassion and dignity. Each person who uses drugs is entitled to treatment as they would be for any medical condition.
- Evidence is crucial. Therapies come backed by plenty of studies proving they are practical, effective, safe, and cost-effective in plenty of communities.
- Social justice and collaboration are prioritized. Harm reduction aims to reduce discrimination and ensure people of all communities get the help and services they need.
- Stigma has no place in treating patients with OUD. People should be met where they are, including if they use drugs currently. All language and terminology should convey respect.
The Philosophy of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction aims to reduce the damage caused by substance misuse and substance use disorder (SUD). The goal isn’t to wholly eliminate substance misuse but rather to lessen the risks to the individual engaging in the behavior.
If a person is not ready or able to be completely abstinent from substances, there are still things we can do to prevent harm to them while they are continuing to use. This is what the harm reduction model advocates.
Harm Reduction for Heroin & Other Opioids
When an individual is using heroin or other opioids, treatment with Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, is a harm reduction strategy that has been shown time and time again to be highly effective.[2]
Some schools of thought view MAT (Medication for Addiction Treatment) as a harm reduction model” in the sense that it still allows individuals to use opioids (methadone and Suboxone) but it permits them access to legal, much safer opioids that have many fewer risks than illicit opioids.[3]
Suboxone can help a person stop injecting heroin, which reduces the risk of infection and bacteria that come with needles. Suboxone also contains naloxone, which helps deter the person from overdosing.
Other harm reduction measures for opioids include the following:
- Marking needles to avoid accidental sharing with other people
- Cutting back on the dose taken each day or per use
- Stopping the use of needles
- Using clean needles
Needle exchange programs, which provide clean, free needles, are another harm reduction approach for OUD.[4]
Harm Reduction for Alcohol Misuse
With AUD, total abstinence might be ideal, but may not be realistic. Even a reduction in the amount of drinking can lower the risk for heart disease, cancer, injuries, and accidents.[5]
These are other forms of harm reduction for alcohol use disorder:
- Making sure never to drive after drinking
- Using apps or other devices to help monitor consumption
- Cutting back on the number of days spent drinking or the number of drinks per session
- Focusing on eating healthfully and drinking water before and during alcohol use
- Using FDA approved medications such as Naltrexone, Acamprosate, or Disulfiram to overall reduce alcohol consumption.
Harm Reduction for Stimulants
There is no medication option to aid in stimulant detox, but harm reduction for stimulants can help to mitigate the harm related to stimulant misuse.
For example, some harm reduction options for stimulants may include the following:[6]
- Avoiding use of needles or participating in needle exchange programs
- Proper dental care to address the harm done by stimulant use on the teeth
- Nutrition counseling to address malnourishment and disordered eating that may result from or drive continued stimulant use
- Using safe sex practices while under the influence to avoid accidental pregnancy and/or disease transmission
Harm Reduction for Marijuana
The risks of heavy or frequent marijuana use include damage to physical health, increased risk of injury, and mental health issues.[7]
To address marijuana use from a harm reduction perspective, these are some options:
- Cutting back on the frequency of use or the amount used per session
- Avoiding driving after use of marijuana
- Choosing not to drink or use other drugs while using marijuana
- Opting to avoid high-potency forms of marijuana
- Using edible forms instead of inhaled forms to prevent lung damage
Effectiveness of Harm Reduction
There have been a number of studies that have looked into the value of harm reduction measures. Harm reduction strategies have consistently been found to work when it comes to addiction, especially when it comes to the support for the use of clean needles and supervised injection sites.[8,9]
Criticism of Harm Reduction
Not everyone understands the value of a harm reduction model. Some view harm reduction - the idea that it is ok to not be entirely abstinent from substances - as enabling people to continue using drugs and alcohol, normalizing a behavior.[10]
Others, including many people in the 12-step community, believe that the use of medications like Suboxone is simply replacing the drug of choice and therefore any use constitutes a lack of “real” sobriety.[11]
The truth is that for many millions of people, total abstinence is not and will never be an option. For these people, a harm reduction model allows them to continue to use while still receiving support and options to help keep them as safe as possible while actively using.
At Bicycle Health, we believe that harm reduction meets people “where they are at” in their addiction journey instead of forcing them to be ready for abstinence when they are not.
Where to Get Help
If you would like to learn more about harm reduction options near you, you can check in with the Harm Reduction Coalition.[12]
You can also find the closest clean needle exchange site through the North American Syringe Exchange Network.[13]
If you would like to learn more about Suboxone and Medication for Addiction Treatment, contact us at Bicycle Health for more information and to set up a personal consultation.
Harm Reduction FAQs
What are some examples of harm reduction?
- Prevention: Prevent people from beginning drug use early in life before a use disorder can develop.[14]
- Systems level changes: Instead of focusing on treating the individual, treat the system. This involves working at a community level or governmental to increase prescription monitoring by physicians, or crack down on the illegal sale/distribution of opioids.
- Reduce harm: Instead of insisting that patients not use drugs, look for ways to support people who continue use drugs by minimizing their risks of infection, overdose, or other complications of drug use.
What is the Mersey Harm Reduction Model?
The Mersey Harm Reduction Model was developed in the 1980s in response to drug epidemics and HIV infections.[15] Rather than pushing people to quit drugs, teams offered clean injection equipment. If people wanted to quit using drugs, they were connected with treatment teams. This approach helped to reduce HIV infections in the Mersey community. Thus, this served as one of the first introductions to the concept of “harm reduction” instead of abstinence based thinking.
What is ethical harm reduction?
Medical practitioners grapple with ethical questions. Do needle exchanges keep people from quitting? Does treating people in prison populations seem fair when people on the outside don't get care? The conversation continues, but plenty of doctors and nurses across the country find that treating their patients with kindness, compassion, and respect is the most ethical way to do their jobs.
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