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An Introduction to Harm
Reduction
By: Anne
Hartley Pfohl, MSEd, ABD
 To paraphrase the great American author, Mark Twain, “Habit is habit,
and not to be thrown out the window by anyone, but coaxed down stairs
one step at a time.” I don’t know if Twain had any inkling, but his
practical view of how people successfully change their behavior captured
the philosophy of harm reduction.
Harm reduction strategies are all around us. Patches and gum get
nicotine into smoker’s systems in ways less harmful than inhaling smoke.
Some people restrict their drinking to the weekend, set a budget for
themselves, and always travel with a designated driver. Weight Watchers
doesn’t tell you, “Never eat ice cream or chocolate ever again!” The
weight loss strategy simply suggests balancing your diet, moderation,
and portion control.
Harm reduction is controversial to those who believe the only way to
stop harmful or risky behavior is to become abstinent right away. For
some of us, however, stopping something we think is fun, something we’re
invested in and have become used to might be too difficult to face.
Favorite foods, drinks, drugs, or sex practices aren’t always that easy
to push out of our lives all at once and forever.
Harm reduction says, let’s not talk about absolutes like never and
forever. Look at what you’re doing now, and work in some small changes
that help you do what you do more safely. For the abstinence-minded,
this seems soft and unrealistic. Abstinence only folks tend to think
people who drink, smoke, use drugs, or have unsafe sex are weak-willed
and incapable of making responsible decisions. In fact, research and
clinical experience show people can make changes, even while they are
still using, smoking, drinking, or partying. People can and do make
choices all the time, and by putting necessary information and resources
in their hands, we find that people can reduce the risk and harm of what
they are doing while they are still doing it.
We have resources at the Pride Center for those who want to make changes
and live healthier lives. I don’t think we have the luxury of only
helping those who are ready for and want our help. If we tell people in
our community that we will only help them when they’re drug and alcohol
free, then we lose precious time that we could be spending helping them
be safer. Harm reduction helps us meet people where they are at in their
lives, without being judgmental. Harm reduction helps people learn to
make healthier choices, one step at a time. |
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