Harm reduction in action: putting theory into practice

Abstract

Harm reduction interventions have been introduced in a large and growing number of countries. Fundamental components of harm reduction programmes are the need to raise `awareness', to `contact' people, to provide them with the `means' to change their behaviour, and to gain `endorsement' for this work. The UK provides a case study of public health harm reduction measures which to date appear to have successfully averted an epidemic of HIV infection. In broad terms, the basic techniques for harm reduction projects and programmes are now known, and there is substantial research and practical evidence to indicate their successful implementation and impact. The global public health challenge in the next decade of harm reduction is therefore to find ways to implement harm reduction. Many elements of good public health practice are found in harm reduction. Harm reduction can learn from public health, and public health can learn from harm reduction.