An Overview of Harm Reduction

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction is a system of priorities which aim to decrease the negative consequences of a behavior². It constitutes a framework from which to work because it contains a goal and a strategy folded into one².  Harm reduction is an intervention that has the hope of lessening the consequences for an individual until they are ready to change a particular risk taking behavior².

What does the model look like?

Harm reduction can take form in very specific and very broad areas of intervention including but not limited to²:

References

1. National Health Care for the Homeless Council. (2010). Harm Reduction: Preparing People for Change.
2. Riley, D., & O’Hare, P. (2000). Harm reduction: National and international Perspectives. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc.