WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION?

Harm reduction is a way of dealing with behavior that damages the health of the person involved and of their community. Harm reduction tries to improve individual and community health.

Much of the work on harm reduction has been in connection with drug use. This fact sheet focuses on harm reduction applied to drug use and HIV.

Some key points of harm reduction:

• Drug use won't disappear but its harmful effects can be reduced. Harm reduction should be a goal for service organizations and governments.
• Some drugs are safer than others. Some ways of using drugs are less harmful than others.
• Drug users can best reduce the harm of their own drug use.
• Abstinence is the ultimate goal. However, it is also good to reduce drug use and drug-related deaths, disease and crime.
• The criminal justice approach should not be the only method for dealing with drug use. Combining it with a public health approach is more productive.
• Services for drug users should be non-judgmental. They should not force people to receive services.

• Teaching drug users about the risks of different drugs and their use.
• Information on using drugs more safely, and reducing the harm of overdoses.
• Provide methadone as a substitute for heroin. Offer medication to counteract a drug overdose.
• Education and referral to drug treatment opportunities.
• Permit drug users to exchange used syringes for new ones, or buy new syringes.
• Outreach services in areas where drug sales occur.
• There is research to support several harm reduction approaches, including methadone maintenance for heroin users and needle exchange for injection drug users.

• Sharing equipment for drug use can spread HIV infection if it contains even a tiny amount of infected blood.
• Drug use is linked to unsafe sexual activity. This increases the spread of HIV infection.
• It is also related to missing doses of HIV medications (poor adherence.) This can make HIV disease get worse.