Editing Harm reduction (section)

{{short description|Public health policies which lessen negative aspects of problematic activities}}
{{Distinguish|Harm principle|Conflict resolution}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

[[File:U. Dist. needle exchange 06.jpg|thumb|[[Needle exchange program]]s provide people who inject substances with new needles and injection equipment to reduce the harm (e.g., HIV infection) from needle drug use.]]
[[File:Drug paraphernalia for sale - harm reduction.jpg|thumb|right|Drug paraphernalia available from a harm reduction NGO at a mobile [[supervised injection site]] in Berlin, Germany.]]
'''Harm reduction''', or '''harm minimization''', refers to a range of intentional practices and [[public health]] policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marshall |first1=Zack |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/952337014 |title=Critical Approaches to Harm Reduction: Conflict, Institutionalization, (de-)politicization, and Direct Action |last2=B.R. Smith |first2=Christopher |date=2016 |publisher=Nova Publishers |isbn=978-1-63484-902-9 |location=New York |oclc=952337014 |access-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225060222/https://search.worldcat.org/title/952337014 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Harm reduction is used to decrease negative consequences of [[recreational drug use]] and [[sexual activity]] without requiring abstinence, recognizing that those unable or unwilling to stop can still make positive change to protect themselves and others.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/what-harm-reduction |title=What is Harm Reduction? |date=June 2021 |publisher=Open Society Foundations |location=New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727170818/https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/what-harm-reduction |archive-date=27 July 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harm Reduction International |title=What Is Harm Reduction? |url=https://www.hri.global/what-is-harm-reduction |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110173243/https://www.hri.global/what-is-harm-reduction |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>

Harm reduction is most commonly applied to approaches that reduce adverse consequences from drug use, and harm reduction programs now operate across a range of services and in different regions of the world.  As of 2020, some 86 countries had one or more programs using a harm reduction approach to substance use, primarily aimed at reducing blood-borne infections resulting from use of contaminated injecting equipment.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.hri.global/files/2021/03/04/Global_State_HRI_2020_BOOK_FA_Web.pdf |title=Global State of Harm Reduction 2020 |publisher=Harm Reduction International |year=2021 |location=London |pages=18–23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234720/https://www.hri.global/files/2021/03/04/Global_State_HRI_2020_BOOK_FA_Web.pdf |archive-date=14 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Needle-exchange programmes reduce the likelihood of people who use heroin and other substances sharing the syringes and using them more than once. Syringe-sharing often leads to the spread of infections such as HIV or [[hepatitis C]], which can easily spread from person to person through the reuse of syringes contaminated with infected blood. [[Needle and syringe programme]]s (NSP) and [[Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)]] outlets in some settings offer basic primary health care. [[Supervised injection sites]] are legally sanctioned, medically supervised facilities designed to provide a safe, hygienic, and stress-free environment for people who use substances. The facilities provide sterile injection equipment, information about substances and basic health care, treatment referrals, and access to medical staff.

Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is the medical procedure of using a harm-reducing opioid that produces significantly less euphoria, such as [[methadone]] or [[buprenorphine]] to reduce opioid cravings in people who use illegal [[opioid]]s, such as heroin; buprenorphine and methadone are taken under medical supervision. Another approach is heroin assisted treatment, in which medical prescriptions for pharmaceutical heroin (diacetylmorphine) are provided to people who are dependent on heroin.

Media campaigns inform drivers of the dangers of [[drunk driving|driving drunk]]. Most people who recreationally consume alcohol are now aware of these dangers and safe ride techniques like '[[designated driver]]s' and free taxicab programmes are reducing the number of drunk-driving crashes. Many schools now provide [[safer sex]] education to teen and pre-teen students, who may engage in sexual activity. Since some adolescents are going to have sex, a harm-reductionist approach supports a sexual education which emphasizes the use of protective devices like [[condoms]] and [[dental dam]]s to protect against unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of [[sexually transmitted infections|STIs]]. Since 1999, some countries have legalized or decriminalized prostitution, such as [[Prostitution in Germany|Germany]] (2002) and [[Prostitution in New Zealand|New Zealand]] (2003).

Many street-level harm-reduction strategies have succeeded in reducing HIV transmission in [[injecting drug user|people who inject substances]] and sex-workers.<ref name="pmid16360791">{{Cite journal |last=Rekart ML |date=December 2005 |title=Sex-work harm reduction |url=http://www.fopme.scuegypt.edu.eg/projects/e-talc/html/content/lancet/PIIS014067360567732X.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Lancet |volume=366 |issue=9503 |pages=2123–2134 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67732-X |pmid=16360791 |s2cid=11448309 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106161054/http://www.fopme.scuegypt.edu.eg/projects/e-talc/html/content/lancet/PIIS014067360567732X.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2017 |s2cid-access=free}}</ref> HIV education, HIV testing, condom use, and safer-sex negotiation greatly decreases the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV.<ref name="pmid16360791" />
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