Harm Reduction
Harm reduction might be used in treatment to support people engaging in behaviors that might impact their mental, physical, and/or emotional health.
Harm reduction refers to a range of intentional evidence-based public health practices, strategies, and policies aimed at decreasing the negative consequences of various human behaviors, namely substance use. This framework is grounded in justice and human rights, focusing on kindness, respect, and autonomy. The end goal of harm reduction is to increase positive change without coercion or disrespect.
Principles of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is rooted in 8 principles. These principles are:
ACCEPT that certain behaviors, such as substance use, are part of our world and community. Work towards minimizing the negative effects of behaviors rather than condemning or penalizing them.
UNDERSTAND that behaviors fall on a spectrum ranging from totally abstinent to severe, and some behaviors are safer than others.
ESTABLISH the quality of life as the center of successful intervention.
CALL for non-judgmental and non-coercive services and resources in the community.
ENSURE that members of the affected community have a real voice in creating programs designed to reduce harm.
AFFIRM members of the community that are affected to share information about behaviors and reduce harm with other members of their community.
RECOGNIZE that the realities of racism, poverty trauma, and other social inequities affect people’s vulnerability to certain behaviors, such as substance use.
DO NOT minimize or ignore the real-life, tragic consequences that can come from behaviors that cause harm.
What Are The Stages of Change?
The stages of change highlight several stages an individual goes through for behavioral change to occur. Harm reduction centers choice in its framework, recognizing that all individuals engaging in behaviors that can cause harm (such as substance use) are in different stages (or places). The stage the individual is in impacts their desire, willingness, readiness, and/or ability to change. As such, providers and police must work with people wherever they are while respecting their autonomy and without passing judgment on their behaviors.
How Does Harm Reduction Help People?
Empirical evidence has found harm-reductionist strategies to be extremely helpful in addressing public health epidemics and crises. Namely, harm reduction is an effective way to minimize overdose, death, infectious diseases (like Hepatitis C and HIV), homelessness, and other health complications related to substance use. Additionally, some research suggests that the principles of harm reduction can be utilized to reduce harm in other behaviors that may impact our health and well-being.
How Can Harm Reduction Help Me?
Whether or not you use substances, harm-reduction strategies may benefit you. Harm reduction can (and might already) be woven into your therapist’s therapeutic approach. For example, the principles of harm reduction overlap with other treatment philosophies and evidence-based practices such as:
Trauma-informed care
Person/client-centered care
Motivational interviewing
How Can Harm Reduction Help Me?
Harm reduction, or harm reduction principles, might be used in treatment to support people engaging in behaviors that might impact their mental, physical, and/or emotional health. These can include behaviors that are symptoms of a disorder or behaviors used to cope with problems and disorders.
Substance use/dependency (e.g., alcohol, drugs, smoking)
Self-harm
Disordered eating
S-xual behaviors that can lead to harm