Harm reduction in the United States

Harm reduction consists of a series of strategies aimed at reducing the negative impacts of drug use on users.[1] It has been described as an alternative to the U.S.'s moral model and disease model of drug use and addiction.[2] While the moral model treats drug use as a morally wrong action and the disease model treats it as a biological or genetic disease needing medical intervention, harm reduction takes a public health approach with a basis in pragmatism.[2] Harm reduction provides an alternative to complete abstinence as a method for preventing and mitigating the negative consequences of drug use and addiction.[3]

  1. ^ Brocato, Jo; Wagner, Eric F. (May 2003). "Harm reduction: a social work practice model and social justice agenda". Health and Social Work. 28 (2). Oxford University Press: 117–125. doi:10.1093/hsw/28.2.117. PMID 12774533.
  2. ^ a b Marlatt, G. Alan (1 November 1996). "Harm Reduction: Come as You Are". Addictive Behaviors. 21 (6): 779–788. doi:10.1016/0306-4603(96)00042-1. PMID 8904943.
  3. ^ Taylor, Jessica L.; Johnson, Samantha; Cruz, Ricardo; Gray, Jessica R.; Schiff, Davida; Bagley, Sarah M. (2021-12-01). "Integrating Harm Reduction into Outpatient Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Settings". Journal of General Internal Medicine. 36 (12): 3810–3819. doi:10.1007/s11606-021-06904-4. ISSN 1525-1497. PMC 8218967. PMID 34159545.