HARM REDUCTION AND PREVENTION
Abstinence has been the traditional focus of U.S. treatment, often dismissing medication treatments as "not true recovery." However, harm reduction and abstinence-based models can work together as part of a comprehensive care approach. Presenting them as opposing sides overlooks their shared goal: supporting individuals in finding effective paths to health.
Supervised consumption sites are often mislabeled as "shooting galleries" or "drug dens." These sites are actually health-focused facilities, staffed by professionals providing essential care, including overdose prevention and other medical services. Used successfully in other countries, they are a crucial part of harm reduction strategies aimed at improving health outcomes for people who use drugs.
Syringe-service programs are often criticized for "enabling" drug use, but research shows these programs significantly reduce the spread of blood-borne infections like HIV and safely manage syringe disposal. There is no evidence that providing clean syringes creates new users, and these programs actually help reduce syringe litter.
The current vaping lung injury outbreak is linked to THC vape pens contaminated with vitamin E acetate, not nicotine e-cigarettes. Media often confuse e-cigarettes with THC vaporizers, leading to ineffective policies like flavored e-cigarette bans. These bans harm adults trying to quit smoking and don't address the true cause of the injuries.
Examine and challenge common perspectives on harm reduction and prevention, including the balance between harm reduction and abstinence, supervised consumption sites, syringe access programs, and the distinctions between e-cigarette and THC vaping. This section offers key resources and detailed insights to help reporters cover these critical topics with informed, nuanced reporting.