People use drugs for different reasons. Harm reduction is an approach that provides options or choices to people to help them stay healthy—even when using drugs.
Here are some examples of harm reduction. Notice that none of them try to force you to quit doing drugs:
- If you get your drug-use equipment from a needle exchange, there’s less chance of getting Hep C or HIV.
- If you switch from opiates (like Oxycontin or heroin) to a methadone maintenance program, you won’t inject as often and run the risk of getting infected with Hep C, HIV or other infections.
- If you learn about safer ways to inject drugs, you can help keep you and your veins healthy.
- If you smoke or inhale your drugs, you can avoid some of the risks with injecting.
- If you use Pyrex stems to smoke crack instead of copper pipes or ginseng bottles, you won’t cut or burn your lips as much.
- If you learn more about what kinds of drugs or bad hits are going around, you could avoid harmful stuff that the drugs are cut with. Your local needle exchange program may have this information.
A note on supervised injection sites: Currently there is only one designated site in Canada (it’s in Vancouver) where people can inject their drugs in a place that is supervised by support and healthcare staff who are there to give information on safety and to provide emergency care, counseling and referrals.
The key principles of harm reduction are:
Non-judgment
Harm reduction means acknowledging that people who use drugs are still people and that drugs are a part of the world we live in. In fact, harm reduction includes all the things drug users already do to stay safe while using. Harm reduction agencies are partners that can help drug users stay healthy and also give support where needed. This means talking about what you’re comfortable with—whether it’s safer drug use or finding a place to live or cutting back on drugs. It all depends on what you want and what you’re ready for because harm reduction “meets you where you’re at”.
Practical interventions
Harm reduction means being realistic. It looks at the small things people can do to make a big difference. Some things are safer than others and harm reduction looks at which ones fit your life. Think about different options like:
Harm reduction doesn’t only apply to injecting drugs, but to smoking and snorting too and also to other actions that might by risky. Look at these examples of harm reduction in other situations:
- Using condoms and lube for safer sex means you can avoid sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
- Getting body-piercing kits from a needle exchange program means you don’t have to share or reuse needles, so you can avoid getting Hep C or HIV.
- Using public transit or having a designated driver means you don’t drink and drive.
- Wearing a seatbelt can save your life if you’re in a car accident.
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