Health Matters
Harm Reduction - It's The Small Steps That Count
Written By: Street Health Program
Publication Date: January 29, 2012
We are surrounded by messages about making our lives better. We are encouraged to be slimmer, more fit, and to be tobacco, alcohol and drug free. The reality is that we do not live in a perfect world and change is difficult. Improving our lives is often done in small steps. For example:
- Mary is a smoker and has been unable to quit smoking. She does, however, want to reduce the harm her tobacco addiction causes both herself and her family.
- Roseanne has diabetes. She wants to become more active and start eating healthier foods.
- Chip is an injection drug user. He has Hepatitis C from sharing needles. He would like to quit using drugs, but has not managed to do so.
Each of these people might improve their lives and the lives of those around them by taking steps that reduce the harm of their risky behaviour. In fact, their failure to take action to reduce the harm from their tobacco use, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating or injection drug use will eventually result in negative health, social or economic consequences.
Both individuals and supporting organizations can use a harm reduction approach. Within an organization, effective harm reduction requires a non-judgemental approach that respects the dignity and rights of the individual and focuses on reducing the harms connected to the risky behaviour. There are many areas of health care that use harm reduction effectively. One of the more controversial issues is the application of the harm reduction philosophy to injection drug use.
In Canada, the traditional response to injection drug use (IDU) involves arrest, jail time and abstinence from all drugs. These methods have shown limited success, pointing to the need for additional strategies. Adding a harm reduction approach to the care of an individual who is using injection drugs may have a greater impact on improving their lives. Often harm reduction approaches are the first step towards the eventual cessation of drug use. Common strategies to reduce the harm of injection drugs include replacing injected narcotics with methadone or needle exchange programs to ensure access to clean supplies which prevent the spread of Hepatitis and HIV to others.
Consider the three people mentioned earlier. Using a harm reduction approach:
- Mary plans to manage her tobacco addiction as she works to quit. She commits to not smoking around her children, at home or in her vehicle. If she needs nicotine, she will use nicotine gum to replace a cigarette. Mary is working on a plan to quit smoking completely.
- Roseanne has started to use the stairs at work rather than the elevator. She would like to exercise more but worries that if she takes on too much she will get frustrated and quit exercising altogether. Her next step is to get off the bus one stop early. She is going to eliminate her empty calorie, high fat evening snacks.
- Chip knows that his drug use is high-risk and can cause him harm. He has registered with a needle exchange program so he has access to clean needles and a safe place to dispose of his used needles. He no longer shares needles. He has also applied to take part in a methadone maintenance program.
Harm reduction is not a quick fix but can lead to improved health and quality of life for individuals, their family and their community. If you or someone you know would like to reduce the risks and harms from injection drug use call the Street Health Program at (306) 655-4642.
Remember it’s the small steps that count on the journey to better health.
Street Health is a program of the Disease Control Department, Saskatoon Health Region – Public Health Services.
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