In the United States, addiction treatment for drugs and alcohol is focused on getting the individual to stop using the substance in question completely. Surprisingly, most other countries around the world have adopted a different approach to substance abuse and addiction – in the form of the harm reduction treatment model.
What is Harm Reduction?
Simply put, harm reduction refers to a program that makes the conditions safer for the chronic drug user. Instead of focusing on the cessation of all drug intake, harm reduction allows the individual to continue using drugs, but in the safest manner possible.
Heroin Addiction and Harm Reduction
Perhaps the most well known form of harm reduction is the needle exchange program as a means of reducing health risks for heroin addicts. Rather than take away an individual’s heroin, needle exchange programs strive to help keep the individual from contracting HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B and C by making sure that they never use dirty needles used by other addicts. This creates a safer environment for the addicted individual – and more or less resigns itself to the fact that they will not stop using heroin in any case.
Harm Reduction and Alcoholism
An individual living with alcoholism is likely to put himself in a number of situations that are a danger to himself and others. Rather than try to get this individual to stop drinking entirely, the harm reduction treatment model emphasizes moderation and safer behaviors surrounding the consumption of alcohol. Making sure that the individual does not drink and drive is one example of harm reduction as it pertains to alcoholism.
Criticisms of the Harm Reduction Model
There are, of course, many people who do not believe that harm reduction is an effective means of treating substance abuse or addiction. These people argue that the longer an individual is allowed to do drugs or drink alcohol, the greater harm they are doing to their long-term health. There is also the school of thought that nobody with an addiction can self-moderate their own behavior – and that even in the safest conditions, the individual’s condition will continue to grow worse over time.
Passing Judgment on the Addict
Harm reduction proponents believe that traditional drug rehab is simply passing too much judgment on the individual – and that as human beings we all have imperfections that must be accepted as a matter of course. Harm reduction states that we need to work within our limitations in the safest, healthiest ways possible.
