What is harm reduction?

It is a philosophy that recognises that some people will use drugs whatever. It is a damage limitation strategy. Harm reduction does not condone drug-taking but simply acknowledges that it takes place; and therefore the pragmatic response is to provide information and advice about minimising risks.

Needle exchanges came about as a harm reduction strategy. In the UK, needle exchanges and harm reduction have been overwhelming successes. In many parts of the UK, where there is a well developed range of services offering prescribed drugs and needle exchange, the HIV prevalence rate among injecting drug users is between 1-2%. Its effectiveness in the UK can be seen by comparison with New York which had no needle exchange and where 70% of drug users are HIV positive (Parsons et al. 1997).

This highlights the need for drug and HIV agencies to be familiar with harm reduction strategies for preventing HIV infection among drug users.