Harm Reduction 101
What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction is a philosophy and set of programs that started with people who use drugs. They wanted to counter the criminalization and harm that was occurring in their community by government inaction. Harm reduction aims to minimize the negative health, social, and legal effects of drug policies and drug laws.
It was important to ANCHR that they follow a harm reduction definition that is appropriate for their work with nursing in Alberta. In May 2022, the ANCHR Board created its own definition:
We define 'harm reduction' as an essential part of nursing practice and a client-centred approach to care. It recognizes people who use substances as experts in their own lives who are best positioned to know how to achieve their self-determined goals. Harm reduction aims to reduce the health, social, and economic harms that come from prohibition and substance use, without necessarily reducing consumption.
What does harm from drug policies, drug laws, and prohibition mean?
The rules that govern how people obtain and use drugs have a significant impact on their health. Prohibition increases rates of infections, reduces access to health services, increases risk of sharing needles, decreases chances of finding a job, increases the potency of drugs.
Research has shown certain groups of people will experience these negative health outcomes more than others. This includes people who are homeless, youth, Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, and gender minority people.
Watch this video from the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition to learn more.
What are some examples of harm reduction?
Some examples of harm reduction program are needle exchanges, overdose prevention sites, and drug checking services. Harm reduction has many different definitions, but some common principles are the participation of people who use drugs, a practical and pragmatic approach, and nonjudgmental.
Indigenous harm reduction often takes a more holistic approach. Indigenous harm reduction incorporates cultural knowledge, ceremonies, and teachings, is inclusive, and is centred on relationality.
Where can I learn more?
Harm reduction is a philosophy and set of programs that started with people who use drugs. They wanted to counter the criminalization and harm that was occurring in their community by government inaction. Harm reduction aims to minimize the negative health, social, and legal effects of drug policies and drug laws.
It was important to ANCHR that they follow a harm reduction definition that is appropriate for their work with nursing in Alberta. In May 2022, the ANCHR Board created its own definition:
We define 'harm reduction' as an essential part of nursing practice and a client-centred approach to care. It recognizes people who use substances as experts in their own lives who are best positioned to know how to achieve their self-determined goals. Harm reduction aims to reduce the health, social, and economic harms that come from prohibition and substance use, without necessarily reducing consumption.
What does harm from drug policies, drug laws, and prohibition mean?
The rules that govern how people obtain and use drugs have a significant impact on their health. Prohibition increases rates of infections, reduces access to health services, increases risk of sharing needles, decreases chances of finding a job, increases the potency of drugs.
Research has shown certain groups of people will experience these negative health outcomes more than others. This includes people who are homeless, youth, Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, and gender minority people.
Watch this video from the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition to learn more.
What are some examples of harm reduction?
Some examples of harm reduction program are needle exchanges, overdose prevention sites, and drug checking services. Harm reduction has many different definitions, but some common principles are the participation of people who use drugs, a practical and pragmatic approach, and nonjudgmental.
Indigenous harm reduction often takes a more holistic approach. Indigenous harm reduction incorporates cultural knowledge, ceremonies, and teachings, is inclusive, and is centred on relationality.
Where can I learn more?
- CATIE has created a toolkit for service providers with 4 self-guided units - Harm Reduction Fundamentals
- The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition has an overview of the history of drug prohibition in Canada
- The Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs (CAPUD) have several studies and reports on their website.
- Why SCS has information on supervised consumption services.
- Toward the Heart has online naloxone training, links to reports, and educational resources. *Note that this is a BC-specific page and some information will apply to that province alone.