Harm Reduction in Health Care Settings

Med Clin North Am. 2022 Jan;106(1):201-217. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.09.002.

Abstract

Harm reduction is an approach to reduce the risk of harms to an individual using substances without requiring abstinence. This review discusses substance-specific interventions for opioids, alcohol, and stimulants that can minimize harms for individuals who use these substances. Topics discussed include overdose prevention, infection prevention, and low-barrier substance use disorder treatment.

Keywords: Addiction; Drug overdose; Harm reduction; Opioid-related disorders; Opioids; Substance use; Substance use disorder; Substance-related disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Behavior, Addictive / therapy
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / adverse effects
  • Counseling / methods
  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Drug Overdose / prevention & control*
  • Fentanyl / therapeutic use
  • Harm Reduction
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Male
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Narcotics / therapeutic use
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods
  • Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Narcotics
  • Naloxone
  • Fentanyl