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Harm Reduction | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
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<div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="content-inner"> <main role="main" class="main inner"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="above-content relative"> <div> <div id="block-nidapagetitle"> <h1 class="h1 l-inner-b"> <span>Harm Reduction</span> </h1> </div> <div class="language-switcher-language-url formats-list-block title-area font-secondary" id="block-languageswitcher-2" role="navigation"> <ul class="links formats-list no-bullets"><li hreflang="es" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50074" class="formats-list-item language"> <span lang="es"><a href="/es/areas-de-investigacion/reduccion-danos" class="language-link" hreflang="es" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50074">En español</a></span> </li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-wrapper"> <div class="layout-center-content "> <div> <div class="content-river"> <div id="block-nida-vic-adaptive-system-main"> <article data-history-node-id="50074"> <div> <div class="topic-intro-wrapper topic-intro-wrapper--research-topic full-width-wrapper l-section--accent-rt pb-1-2 mb-2-4"> <div class="topic-intro full-width-contents l-inner-sides row-no-wrap-d"> <div class="col-desktop-8 col-12"> <div class="l-card height-100 rt-highlights--wrapper"> <div class="rt-flex"> <div class="rt-flex--highlights"> <div><h2>Highlights</h2><div class="align-right image-medium"> <div class="media-image"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Image</div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_medium/public/images/TookesMelissahug.optimized%281%29.jpg?itok=ZyljpJvn" width="426" height="284" alt="Dr. Hansel Tookes embraces IDEA participant Melissa."> </div> </div> <span class="image-credit"> <div>NIDA Image</div> </span> </div> </div> <ul><li>Harm reduction approaches help reduce certain health and safety issues associated with drug use.<a href="#references"><sup>1</sup></a> As a model of substance use care distinct from treatment or recovery support,<a href="#references"><sup>2</sup></a> harm reduction was created by and for people who use drugs<a href="#references"><sup>3</sup></a> to improve health and wellbeing, including during active drug use. Well-studied harm reduction strategies include <a href="/research-topics/syringe-services-programs" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="46fd7672-1fb7-452d-bbe2-bca359961334" data-entity-substitution="canonical">syringe services</a> and <a href="/publications/drugfacts/naloxone" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="085728f1-1024-4c4c-9efd-f939ac5065ae" data-entity-substitution="canonical">naloxone</a> distribution programs.</li><li>Decades of research have shown that some harm reduction strategies provide significant individual and public health benefits,<a href="#references"><sup>4,5,6</sup></a> including preventing deaths from overdoses and preventing transmission of infectious diseases among people who use drugs and the larger community. Others reduce emergency department visits and costly healthcare services,<a href="#references"><sup>7,8</sup></a><span style="font-size:12.5px;"> </span>while in some cases offering people who use drugs opportunities to connect to <a href="/research-topics/treatment" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="15ca54d5-9d0e-40be-8e7b-6430675fc4a6" data-entity-substitution="canonical">substance use treatment</a><a href="#references"><sup>9,10</sup></a> and other healthcare<a href="#references"><sup>10</sup></a> services in settings relatively free of <a href="/research-topics/stigma-discrimination" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="333eb3ed-f83c-4dc0-b4bc-8f4bf73d43e7" data-entity-substitution="canonical">stigma</a>.</li><li>NIDA <a href="/about-nida/2022-2026-strategic-plan/priority-area-2#Goal2-2">supports research</a> on how to best implement proven harm reduction strategies and to explore the effectiveness of new and emerging approaches, particularly in resource-challenged settings.</li></ul></div> </div> <aside class="rt-flex--promo" role="complementary" style="border-left:3px solid #20558A; padding-left:1.2rem;"> <div><h3>What is Harm Reduction?</h3><p>We hear from people on what harm reduction is (and isn’t) in their own words.</p><div class="align-center image-medium"> <div class="media-image"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Image</div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_medium/public/images/ati-thumbnails-harm-reduction.optimized.png?itok=8FLOYhFp" width="426" height="284" alt="What is Harm Reduction video promo"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p style="margin-bottom:1.2rem;margin-top:-.6rem;"><a href="/videos/what-harm-reduction"><span class="text-button-embed">Watch the video</span></a></p></div> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-inner research-topic-inner"> <aside class="layout-sidebar-left" role="complementary"> <h2 class="research-topic-inner--title"><span>Research Topics</span></h2> <div class="research-topic-inner--content"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Related Topic Pages</div> <div> <div><a href="/research-topics/drug-checking">Drug Checking</a></div> <div><a href="/research-topics/hiv">HIV</a></div> <div><a href="/research-topics/overdose-prevention-centers">Overdose Prevention Centers</a></div> <div><a href="/research-topics/overdose-reversal-medications">Overdose Reversal Medications</a></div> <div><a href="/research-topics/syringe-services-programs">Syringe Services Programs</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> <article class="main"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--summary-cards-row-of-2 paragraph--view-mode--default l-section"> <div class="l-inner-b card-grid"> <div class="row grid-2-up mb-1-2"> <div class="grid-item"> <article data-history-node-id="23417" class="block-card height-100"> <div> <div class="block-card--inset p-1-2"> <a href="/publications/drugfacts/naloxone"> <div class="block-card-text"> <h2 class="block-card-heading"> <span>Naloxone DrugFacts</span> </h2> <p class="text-small card-description"> Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person during an opioid overdose. </p> </div> </a> </div> </div> </article></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3-6"><div class="views-element-container" id="block-views-block-latest-from-nida-block-16"> <h2>Latest from NIDA</h2> <div><div class="media-list js-view-dom-id-0dd99447f339ef1ceaa095d1d8e0a14f1b54dd09d735eb406a6e3dfa650c868d"> <div class="media-list-item "> <article data-history-node-id="53525"> <div class="media-item row v-align-middle"> <div class="media-item-image col-4"> <a href="/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/syringe-services-for-people-who-inject-drugs-are-enormously-effective-but-remain-underused"> <div><div class="featured-card"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Image</div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/featured_card/public/images/optimized.Idea_Exchange_Dr_Tookes-7E7A2132.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=DzMByxXy" width="600" height="400" alt="Syringe services program staff member distributing harm reduction supplies." /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="media-item-content col-8"> <div class="tags tag-newspaper"><a href="/about-nida/noras-blog">Nora's Blog</a></div> <h3 class="media-item-title"> <a href="/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/syringe-services-for-people-who-inject-drugs-are-enormously-effective-but-remain-underused" rel="bookmark"> <span>Syringe services for people who inject drugs are enormously effective, but remain underused</span> </a> </h3> <div class="media-item-blurb text-small desktop-only"> <span class="meta-data date text-small"> <time datetime="2024-11-25T12:00:00Z">November 25, 2024</time> </span> | December 1 is World AIDS Day, an opportunity to underscore the solid science behind syringe services programs </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="media-list-item "> <article data-history-node-id="53490"> <div class="media-item row v-align-middle"> <div class="media-item-image col-4"> <a href="/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/improving-community-engagement-in-addiction-science"> <div><div class="featured-card"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Image</div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/featured_card/public/images/gettyimages-2158383003.optimized.jpg?h=199d8c1f&itok=vpct1qVM" width="600" height="400" alt="Group of diverse friends great each other and clasp hands while standing in a park." /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="media-item-content col-8"> <div class="tags tag-newspaper"><a href="/about-nida/noras-blog">Nora's Blog</a></div> <h3 class="media-item-title"> <a href="/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/improving-community-engagement-in-addiction-science" rel="bookmark"> <span>Improving community engagement in addiction science</span> </a> </h3> <div class="media-item-blurb text-small desktop-only"> <span class="meta-data date text-small"> <time datetime="2024-11-12T12:00:00Z">November 12, 2024</time> </span> | NIDA is committed to improving community engagement in all parts of the research process </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="media-list-item "> <article data-history-node-id="53070"> <div class="media-item row v-align-middle"> <div class="media-item-image col-4"> <a href="/news-events/news-releases/2024/06/federal-study-examines-care-following-nonfatal-overdose-among-medicare-beneficiaries-identifies-effective-interventions-and-gaps-in-care"> <div><div class="featured-card"> <div> <div class="visually-hidden">Image</div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/featured_card/public/images/GettyImages-1343874708.optimized.jpg?h=199d8c1f&itok=JvKmyajj" width="600" height="400" alt="Medical practitioner sitting at her desk with a patient sharing a brochure while talking about prescription medication." /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="media-item-content col-8"> <div class="tags tag-newspaper"><a href="/news-events/news-releases">News Release</a></div> <h3 class="media-item-title"> <a href="/news-events/news-releases/2024/06/federal-study-examines-care-following-nonfatal-overdose-among-medicare-beneficiaries-identifies-effective-interventions-and-gaps-in-care" rel="bookmark"> <span>Federal study examines care following nonfatal overdose among medicare beneficiaries; identifies effective interventions and gaps in care</span> </a> </h3> <div class="media-item-blurb text-small desktop-only"> <span class="meta-data date text-small"> <time datetime="2024-06-17T12:00:00Z">June 17, 2024</time> </span> | Receiving gold-standard care after a non-fatal overdose was associated with a decreased risk of subsequent overdose. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <footer> <a href="/search?sort=_score&language=en&research_topic=Harm%20Reduction" class="button button-primary-alt button--small">View More</a> </footer> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--full-width-text paragraph--view-mode--default l-inner-b"> <h2 class="h2 pb-1-2"> Find More Resources on Harm Reduction </h2> <div><ul><li>Learn more about harm reduction from the <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a> (SAMHSA).</li><li>Learn how harm reduction plays a role in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/overdose-prevention/harm-reduction">Overdose Prevention Strategy</a>.</li></ul></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="iq-accordion iq-accordion--references clear-both mb-2-4 pt-0-6"> <button id="references" class="iq-accordion--heading" aria-expanded="false"><h2>References</h2><span class="iq-accordion--toggle closed h3"></span></button> <div class="iq-accordion--content" aria-hidden="true"> <div><ol><li>Ritter A, Cameron J. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17132577/">A review of the efficacy and effectiveness of harm reduction strategies for alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs</a>. <em>Drug Alcohol Rev</em>. 2006;25(6):611-624. doi:10.1080/09595230600944529</li><li>Marlatt GA. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8904943/">Harm reduction: come as you are</a>. <em>Addict Behav</em>. 1996;21(6):779-788. doi:10.1016/0306-4603(96)00042-1</li><li>Hawk M, Coulter RWS, Egan JE, et al. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5655864/">Harm reduction principles for healthcare settings</a>. <em>Harm Reduct J</em>. 2017;14(1):70. Published 2017 Oct 24. doi:10.1186/s12954-017-0196-4</li><li>Puzhko S, Eisenberg MJ, Filion KB, et al. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35273933/">Effectiveness of interventions for prevention of common infections among opioid users: A systematic review of systematic reviews</a>. <em>Front Public Health</em>. 2022;10:749033. Published 2022 Feb 22. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.749033</li><li>Campbell EM, Jia H, Shankar A, et al. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853229/">Detailed transmission network analysis of a large opiate-driven outbreak of HIV infection in the United States</a>. <em>J Infect Dis</em>. 2017;216(9):1053-1062. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix307</li><li>Ruiz MS, OʼRourke A, Allen ST, Holtgrave DR, Metzger D, Benitez J, Brady KA, Chaulk CP, Wen LS. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6820712/">Using interrupted time series analysis to measure the impact of legalized syringe exchange on HIV diagnoses in Baltimore and Philadelphia</a>. <em>J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr.</em> 2019 Dec 1;82 Suppl 2(2):S148-S154. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002176. Erratum in: <em>J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr.</em> 2020 Feb 1;83(2):e12.</li><li>Coye AE, Bornstein KJ, Bartholomew TS, Li H, Wong S, Janjua NZ, Tookes HE, St Onge JE. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8489420/">Hospital costs of injection drug use in Florida.</a><em>Clin Infect Dis.</em> 2021 Feb 1;72(3):499-502. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa823</li><li>Kim SW, Pulkki-Brannstrom AM, Skordis-Worrall J. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4396789/">Comparing the cost effectiveness of harm reduction strategies: a case study of the Ukraine.</a> <em>Cost Eff Resour Alloc</em>. 2014;12:25. Published 2014 Nov 24. doi:10.1186/1478-7547-12-25</li><li>Surratt HL, Otachi JK, Williams T, Gulley J, Lockard AS, Rains R. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7021582/">Motivation to change and treatment participation among syringe service program utilizers in rural Kentucky</a>. <em>J Rural Health</em>. 2020;36(2):224-233. doi:10.1111/jrh.12388</li><li>Nassau T, Kolla G, Mason K, et al. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8966307/">Service utilization patterns and characteristics among clients of integrated supervised consumption sites in Toronto, Canada</a>. <em>Harm Reduct J</em>. 2022;19(1):33. Published 2022 Mar 29. doi:10.1186/s12954-022-00610-y</li></ol></div> </div> </div> </article> <aside class="layout-sidebar-right article-aside" role="complementary"> <div class="citation-block" id="block-citation"> <div class="citation"> <button class="citation-header button button-primary-alt button--small" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0"> <span class="pointer-background"><i class="fas fa-quote-left"></i> Cite this article</span> </button> <div class="citation-content"> <div class="tabs-wrapper"> <button class="tab-button active button button-secondary-alt button--small" data-click="selectme1">APA Style</button> <button class="tab-button button button-secondary-alt button--small" data-click="selectme2">MLA Style</button> <button class="tab-button button button-secondary-alt button--small" data-click="selectme3">AMA Style</button> </div> <div id="selectme1" class="selectme"> <p> NIDA. 2022, October 26. Harm Reduction. 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