Harm reduction (paper)

Harm reduction principles and strategies are designed to minimize the destructive consequences of illicit drug use and other behaviors that may pose serious health risks. Rather than insisting on abstinence as a prerequisite to continued treatment, proponents of the harm reduction approach aim to meet drug users "where they're at" with community-based services that empower diverse clients to set and meet their own treatment goals. The first major harm reduction text, this provocative and timely volume examines a wide range of current applications-from needle exchange and methadone maintenance programs, to alternative alcohol interventions and AIDS prevention campaigns. Insight is also offered into the often contentious philosophical and policy-related debates surrounding this growing movement. This text will be of interest to frontline drug and alcohol treatment providers, AIDS educators, community health activists, students and professionals in public health, clinical and health psychology, psychiatry, primary care, counseling, and social work, readers interested in drug policy and the law.

Abrams, Lewis, Foreword. Part I: Overview of Harm Reduction. Marlatt, Highlights of Harm Reduction: A Personal Report from the First National Harm Reduction Conference in the United States. Marlatt, Harm Reduction around the World: A Brief History. Marlatt, Basic Principles and Strategies of Harm Reduction. Part II: Applications to Addictive Behaviors and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors. Larimer, Marlatt, Baer, Quigley, Blume, Hawkins, Harm Reduction for Alcohol Problems: Expanding Access to and Acceptability of Prevention and Treatment Services. Baer, Brady, Murch, Harm Reduction, Nicotine, and Smoking. Tapert, Kilmer, Quigley, Larimer, Roberts, Miller, Harm Reduction Strategies for Illicit Substance Use and Abuse. Peterson, Dimeff, Tapert, Stern, Gorman, Harm Reduction and HIV/AIDS Prevention. Part III: Matching Strategies to Diverse Ethnic Communities. Bringing Harm Reduction to the Black Community: Woods, "There's a Fire in My House and You're Telling Me to Rearrange My Furniture." Daisy, Thomas, Worley, Alcohol Use and Harm Reduction within the Native Community. Part IV: Can Harm Reduction Play a Role in U.S. Drug Policy? Weingardt, Marlatt, Harm Reduction and Public Policy.

The first major harm reduction text, this timely volume examines a wide range of current applications-from needle exchange and methadone maintenance programs, to alternative alcohol interventions and AIDS prevention campaigns.