The establishment of no-smoking zones in public buildings and measures to improve automobile safety are examples of harm reduction in other fields. Similarly, measures to reduce or forbid alcohol consumption in settings such as traffic and workplaces represent the use of harm reduction as an accepted option. Drug abusers can cause social, economic, and medical harm to themselves and others; harm reduction measures can address each of these forms of harm. Such measures should be based on realism, openmindedness and pragmatism, building links, knowledge of facts, and optimism. Chart and 7 references