Harm Reduction Flashcards
what is harm reduction?
interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects without extinguishing the problematic health behaviors completely
OR
any positive change as a person defines it for him or herself
accepts drug use is a part of our world and works to minimize effects rather than ignore or condemn them
harm principle 1
understands drug use is a complex phenomenon that encompasses behaviors from severe use to total abstinence and acknowledges that some ways of using drugs are safer than others
harm principle 2
establishes quality of individual and community life/well being as criteria for successful interventions and policies (not just cutting out all drug use)
harm principle 3
calls for non judgemental provision of services and resources to people who use drugs and the communities where they live in order to assist them in reducing harm
harm principle 4
ensures that people who use drugs or have a history routinely have a real voice in creation of programs and policies designed to serve them
harm principle 5
affirms people who use drugs as primary agents of reducing the harms of their drug use and seeks to empower them to share info and support eachother
harm principle 6
recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, inequities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm
harm principle 7
does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger that can be associated with illicit drug use
harm principle 8
medications for opioid use disorder
methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone
methadone
agonist
buprenorphine
partial agonist
naltrexone
antagonist
what do medications for OUD do to cravings and withdrawal
reduce cravings/block euphoric effect, agonist medications reduce withdrawal
how do OUD meds reduce harm
increase patient survival
decrease infection
decrease drug triggers
