NCJ Number
159649
Date Published
1993
Length
31 pages
Annotation
The terms harm reduction, harm minimization, and risk reduction are often used interchangeably in the addictive behaviors literature; the authors believe harm reduction provides a conceptual umbrella for studying addictive behaviors and provide examples of harm reduction programs that have been implemented to reduce the risk of addictive behaviors.
Abstract
Harm reduction models in the Netherlands and in the United States are compared, particularly with respect to low versus high threshold access to prevention and treatment programs, public health versus criminal justice approaches to drug addiction, toleration versus zero tolerance, and normalization versus denormalization policies. Specific harm reduction methods are described that encompass AIDS prevention, needle exchange programs, and sex education, and political aspects of harm reduction in the United States are discussed. 68 references and 4 figures