A review of established and emerging harm reduction interventions shared outcomes aimed at reducing overdoses and improving access to treatment among individuals who use drugs.

Background

Overdose is the leading cause of unintentional death nationwide. Harm reduction interventions can support individuals who use substances in using drugs safely or accessing treatment options. This article summarizes established and emerging practices that may help reduce overdoses, as well as the impact of policy on implementing and scaling these interventions.

About this Resource

This article described harm reduction practices with varying levels of adoption and the impact of current federal and state policies. Distribution of naloxone, syringe service programs, and drug checking have been widely adopted, with established impacts on reducing overdose-related mortality, rates of bloodborne and other transmissible infections, and use of contaminated drugs. Overdose prevention centers and safe supply interventions have been effective in countries outside of the U.S., but current federal and state laws prohibit similar implementation and have experienced limited stakeholder support.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Harm reduction interventions have showed promise in reducing drug-related overdoses and promoting healthy behaviors among people who use drugs. Providers, community-based organizations, and policymakers can use this article to understand the breadth of harm reduction interventions and opportunities to implement or scale these efforts within their communities.