What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction refers to any effort that reduces the negative effects of an activity without asking people to stop doing that activity. Practicing harm reduction in your own life can help you live healthier, both physically and emotionally.

Harm reduction is especially important in preventing infections like Hep C and HIV. When it comes to Hep C, harm reduction activities are mostly about avoiding your blood coming into contact with other people’s blood (both blood you can see and blood you can’t).

Here are some examples of harm reduction. Notice that none of these activities try to force you to quit doing drugs. In fact, you may find you already do some of these things. If you:

• use drug equipment that has never been used before, there’s less chance of getting Hep C or HIV. 
• learn about safer ways to inject drugs, you can help keep your veins and yourself healthy.
• smoke or inhale your drugs instead of injecting, you can avoid abscesses, collapsed veins and infections from injecting. You can also reduce the risk of getting Hep C.
• learn more about the kinds of drugs going around, you can avoid a bad hit. 

But harm reduction doesn’t only apply to injecting drugs. There are activities people can take on to reduce harms associated with smoking and snorting drugs, drinking alcohol, having sex and even driving a car, such as:

• Using a Pyrex stem to smock crack (instead of copper pipes or ginseng bottles) means fewer cuts and burns on your lips.
• Using condoms and lube during sex means there’s less chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection.
• Getting body-piercing kits from a needle exchange program means you don’t have to share or reuse needles, which helps you avoid getting Hep C or HIV.
• Wearing a seatbelt can save your life if you’re in a car accident.

The key principles of harm reduction are:

Non-judgment

Harm reduction acknowledges that people who use drugs have a right to be treated with the same amount of respect as anyone else. It recognizes that drugs are a part of the world we live in and it’s not OK to judge someone or make someone feel badly because they use.

Practical interventions

Harm reduction means being realistic. It looks at the small things people can do to make a big difference. Some things are safer than others and harm reduction looks at which ones fit your life. Think about different options such as: 

It’s about knowing a whole range of ways to be healthier and taking on the ones that you’re comfortable with and that fit into your life. This doesn’t mean it will always be easy. Harm reduction organizations are partners in your community that can help you learn your options and find support to stay healthy. This support can be through providing materials (like unused equipment) or personal (like helping you stay motivated).

“Nothing about us without us”

Harm reduction recognizes that people who use drugs have the right to be involved in decisions and services that affect them. This includes involvement in programs and policy around infections such as hepatitis C.

Interested in becoming more involved? This can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s joining an advocacy network like the Vancouver Area Network for Drug Users (VANDU). For others, being involved means acting as a peer educator or outreach worker with a local organization. Another great way to become involved is to talk to people you know about staying safe when they use.

Revised 2011.