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Pros And Cons Of Harm Reduction

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Harm reduction refers to the practices, programs, and policies that are used to mitigate the harms associated with substance abuse in individuals who are unwilling or unable to stop. Harm reduction is used to prevent harm, rather than preventing drug use itself, and focuses on individuals who continue to use drugs. Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs, methadone clinics, and supervised injection facilities.
The Goals of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is based on the perception that substance abusers are unwilling or unable to stop using drugs. Therefore, the goals of harm reduction include prevention and prevention of the overall level of drug use. It also seeks to reduce the negative consequences of drug abuse rather than eliminating the use of the illicit substances. Further, harm reduction aims to save lives and diminish the likelihood of drug abuse problems for an individual, their family, as well as their community.
The process of harm reduction also helps in reducing high-risk situations brought about by drug abuse, such as criminal behavior, and HIV exposure due to sharing of needles and paraphernalia, as well as risk of overdose. It also assists in …show more content…

Harm reduction makes it possible for drug abusers to use new needles without sharing due to having access to supplies and education. Studies have shown that in Canada the risk of HIV dropped drastically in the nineties after harm reduction intervention among drug users and by 2011, the number dropped from 40 percent to 1.7 percent among individuals who admitted to sharing needles. Further, harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchanges have led to a reduction in the spread of blood-borne diseases. Harm reduction is useful to individuals who may fail at rehabilitation. Therefore, harm reduction is seen as a way of letting a problem continue, while keeping it from getting

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Needle exchange programs are considered to be illegal in most states in America due to the social stigma that is the sterile syringes become available to the public then it will increase the rate of drug use. Despite the fact that all advantageous outcomes which are mentioned above, from needle exchange programs were scientifically proven by the research there is still a fear that by legalizing injection equipment the drug abuse would increase. Interesting that this argument still exist, because after numerous research no evidence were found that needle exchange programs will lead to increased drug injection (National Research Council ). The philosopher Immanuel Kant would say that it is not ethical to provide clean syringes to drug addicts

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