Substance addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, loss of control over consumption, and a negative emotional state when access to the drug is restricted. Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are associated with severe health issues including suicide and co-occurring diseases like HIV and hepatitis C, and mental health problems. Although the present SUD treatment models prioritize abstinence, achieving abstinence during a treatment episode is challenging as majority of individuals with SUDs continue using drugs during treatment. To address this challenge in the current SUD treatment model, harm reduction has emerged as a strategy that focuses on interventions such as naloxone distribution, syringe services, safe drug use education and other strategies that reduce harmful outcomes such as substance-related overdose death and disease transmission while improving quality of life. This commentary proposes a Holistic Harm Reduction Model that can be incorporated by harm reduction centers aimed at reducing risky drug use behavior and overdose deaths, and ultimately improving public health outcomes in the community. The proposed holistic model includes new components such as trauma-informed care and referral and a brief mindfulness intervention along with the already existing harm reduction approaches such as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and harm reduction managers to provide comprehensive healthcare services, distribution of supplies; education; referral and linkage to other services, including medications for substance use disorder; and participant data collection and analysis.
Read full abstract