The opioid crisis of the 2010s that has seen a sharp increase in overdose deaths has underscored the need for new approaches. Harm reduction services designed to reduce the negative effects of drug use rather than eliminating the use itself has grown in popularity. A new Johns Hopkins University study by Ju Nyeong Park, Susan Sherman and colleagues in the peer-reviewed journal Addictive Behaviors investigated how two components of a harm reduction effort affects drug use in a sample of illicit drug users. It showed how harm reduction is a way to combat drug use.
The Traditional Approach
The traditional approach to combating illicit drug use has been through the punitive approach of criminalizing the behavior. In the U.S. the so-called War on Drugs has been largely ineffective as it has not interrupted the supply of drugs, nor reduced the demand. Punishment as a means of discouraging a behavior, particularly one that can be self-destructive, it is not always effective for several reasons.
- External means of control via punishment reduces a person’s sense of empowerment and makes it more difficult to take control of one’s own behavior.
- The punitive approach sends a strong message that undermines self-esteem as the person develops a negative self-image. This self-image can make it more difficult to maintain the motivation to avoid drugs.
- A punitive approach can lead people to become angry and frustrated toward those who are in positions of authority. This can lead to an “acting out” by engaging in the taboo behavior.
- The fear of punishment can make people hide their drug use from others and avoid seeking help.
Harm Reduction Is a Way to Combat Drug Use
Rather than attempting to control people’s drug use through punishment, the new approach of harm reduction focuses on supporting individuals and helping them reduce the negative impact of drugs on their health and lives. By adopting a nonjudgmental attitude and providing assistance to reduce negative effects of drug use, harm reduction avoids the negative consequences of the punitive approach. But does an approach that focuses on supporting someone’s safe drug use encourage less drug use? The Park study might have the answer.
A sample of 103 illicit drug users in Baltimore were offered two harm reduction services (drug testing and harm reduction counseling) and were subsequently followed for two months afterwards. They were given fentanyl test strips and trained how to test their drugs for potentially lethal fentanyl. They were also offered a short counseling session that focused on how to more safely use illicit drugs. The findings were the following:
- Most participants (84%) used the test strips at least once.
- Most participants had at least one positive result, showing that fentanyl was widespread.
- More than half of participants used test strips before every drug use.
- Participants who used the test strips reduced their drug use after receiving the services.
It might seem surprising that an approach can be effective in reducing a behavior that it seems to support. It should be kept in mind that what these two services are providing is empowerment to drug users by providing tools to be safe. This enhances self-esteem, which can help drug users maintain the motivation to improve their lives and remain safe. This is only one study but it shows the potential of harm reduction to help people take charge of their illicit drug use.
Image from Rawpixel.com.
SUBSCRIBE to this blog at bottom right of the page to receive e-mail notices of each new article.