Harm reduction is a set of practical, public health strategies designed to reduce potential harms associated with drug use and promote healthy lifestyles and communities. There is no universal definition for harm reduction. The idea of harm reduction is to ensure there is no judgment about a person’s drug use and sexual activity. The intent is to meet people where they are in terms of ability and willingness to modify behaviors. Positive changes are made based on client centered goals, needs, circumstances, and readiness to change.
The goal of harm reduction is to save lives and protect the
health of people who use substances and preserve the integrity of
their communities.
Harm reduction is an important approach to addressing substance
use disorders through prevention, treatment, and recovery, where
individuals who use substances set their own goals.
Examples of harm reduction tools include:
- Naloxone distribution, training, and use: Naloxone is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose.
- Syringe service programs (SSP): Prevention programs that provide new syringes along with other services.
- Education and supplies: Supplies and education aimed at preventing infectious diseases, which can include bleach, fentanyl test strips, substance checking, safe disposal containers, supplies promoting administration by routes other than syringes, and safer smoking equipment, among others.
- Other resources: Includes wraparound services, such as linkage to HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, including antiretroviral therapy for HCV and HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), prevention of mother to child transmission, and partner services.
County of San Diego Naloxone Distribution Program
- Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time.
- Naloxone is easy to use and small to carry (see video below).
- There are two forms of naloxone that anyone can use without medical training or authorization: 1) prefilled nasal spray and 2) injectable.
- The naloxone program provides the following
services:
- Distributes naloxone kits,
- Integrates targeted outreach and training efforts,
- Partners with community-based programs, and
- Implements naloxone vending machine strategy.
Video: How to use naloxone nasal spray
Video: How to use injectable naloxone
Contact Information
For more information on how to receive a naloxone training, access naloxone, or become a naloxone distribution provider, contact the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Harm Reduction Team below.
County Resources
Through surveillance and prevention, the County is motivated to reduce opioid use disorder, increase treatment resources, and reduce emergency department visits and deaths from opioid overdoses. Other community resources are available here.
Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
Find mobile and walk-in locations that distribute free naloxone at
this link.
Find information and resources for HIV and STD testing, HIV/AIDS care services, and prevention.
Mental health and substance use resources and support services,
including the San Diego Access and Crisis Line with live chat,
provider directory, and list of behavioral health services are
available. You can also find harm reduction and naloxone training
tools here.
Show All Questions and Answers | Show Questions Only
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Why use harm reduction strategies?
The goal of harm reduction is to save lives and protect the health of people who use substances and preserve the integrity of their communities. Decades of research have shown that harm reduction strategies such as naloxone distribution and syringe service programs (SSPs) provide significant individual and public health benefits, including preventing deaths from overdoses and preventing transmission of infectious diseases among people who use drugs and the larger community.
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Why are harm reduction services needed?
- Harm reduction services save lives by being available and accessible in a matter that emphasizes the need for humility and compassion toward people who use drugs.
- Harm reduction plays a significant role in preventing drug-related deaths and offering access to healthcare, social services, and treatment.
- These services decrease overdose fatalities, acute
life-threatening infections related to unsterile drug injection, and
chronic diseases such as HIV/HCV.
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How does harm reduction fit in with prevention, treatment, and recovery?
As a comprehensive prevention strategy, harm reduction is part of the continuum of care. Harm reduction approaches have proven to prevent death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. Harm reduction is effective in addressing the public health epidemic involving substance use as well as infectious disease and other harms associated with drug use. Specifically, harm reduction services can:
- Connect individuals to overdose education, counseling, and referral to treatment for infectious diseases and substance use disorders.
- Distribute opioid overdose reversal medications (e.g., naloxone) to individuals at risk of overdose, or to those who might respond to an overdose.
- Lessen harms associated with drug use and related behaviors that increase the risk of infectious diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, and bacterial and fungal infections.
- Reduce infectious disease transmission among people who use drugs, including those who inject drugs by equipping them with accurate information, supplies and referral to resources.
- Reduce overdose deaths, promote linkages to care, facilitate co-location of services as part of a comprehensive, integrated approach.
- Reduce stigma associated with substance use and related disorders.
- Promote a philosophy of hope and
healing by utilizing those with lived experience of recovery in
the management of harm reduction services, and connecting those
who have expressed interest to treatment, peer support workers
and other recovery support services.
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What are examples of harm reduction services?
- Navigation services to ensure linkage to HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, including antiretroviral therapy for HCV and HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), prevention of mother to child transmission and partner services.
- Referral to hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations to reduce risk of viral hepatitis infection.
- Provision of education on HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and referral to treatment services.
- Provision of information on local resources and/or
referrals for PrEP.
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What is the guiding philosophy of harm reduction?
Harm reduction is centered in respect and compassion. There are several core principles, including meeting people where they are, encouraging any positive change, and including people with lived experience of addiction and drug use as leaders and decision-makers within harm reduction spaces.
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Does harm reduction increase drug use?
No. Studies have reported that after introducing harm reduction programs there are decreases in drug use because they act as referral points for people wanting to begin drug treatment. Harm reduction meets individuals where they are and offers many resources and services that aim to minimize the negative health, social, and legal impacts associated with drug use.
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Where can I learn more about harm reduction?
- California Department of Public Health
(CDPH)
- CDPH’s Office of Aids compiled various resources that support harm reduction learning by providing data reports, training resources, and overdose prevention tools.
- The National
Harm Reduction Coalition
- The National Harm Reduction Coalition resource center offers information, reports, webinars, and podcasts that help individuals build a foundation of understanding harm reduction
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration ( SAMHSA)
- SAMHSA’s webpage answers important questions about the importance of and need for harm reduction services.
- California Department of Public Health
(CDPH)
For more information,
call
(619) 293-4700 or send us an email at PHS-HRSP.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Last updated May 21, 2024.
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