Harm Reduction Essay Example

Harm Reduction Essay Example Harm Reduction Essay Harm Reduction Essay drug use knowledge of HIVand AIDS, sexual behaviour (number of patners, condom use, etc) exposure to high risk situations and other information, information about the test should also be provided at this moment. post counselling depends on the test results. If negative, the client should receive information that the results might not be reliable and that a new test should be conducted in 3-6 months. Over dose prevention Naloxone, a short-acting opioid antagonist, overturns the immediate effects of heroin and prevents overdose among injection drug users. other drugs such as methadone, which have similar properties to heroin and morphine, help to reduce overdose, risk of HIV and hepatitis, and criminal acts and other high risk behaviors’( the latter two because methadone is delivered legally). other overdose management strategies include peer-to-peer and encouraging peers to seek help and call an ambulance when an over dose is suspected. Prevention and services for the management of sexually transmitted infections: It is critical to provide information to drug users about the risk of HIV transmission and strategies to reduce such transmission. Strategies may include using condoms, reducing the number of sexual partners or being faithful to one partner, treating sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence, etc. What steps should we take to develop harm reduction strategies with our clients? Step 1: Be familiar with the potential harms associated with all types of drug use. Step 2: Assess the harms and risk associated with the clients drug use by analyzing their pattern of drug use. You could use forms such as the when? Where? Why? With/from Whom? What happened? Step 3: Assess with the client and provide feedback to them about how their behaviour is contributing to the harms they are experiencing, Step4: Use a collaborative approach with the client to consider as many harm reduction strategies as possible. It is equally important to identify barriers to the implementation of these strategies. Step 5: Have the client identify their goals regarding drug use and related behaviors’ and delineate how they will achieve these goals Step6: Monitor the client behavior, reinforce positive changes and address difficulties Conclusion Worries concerning financial, social and marital problems are rampant these days, a brief consultation with a general practioner is not the best answer to many stress related problems that arise. One is likely to come away with a prescription for tranquilizer pill as a temporary measure without understanding the underlying problem. If the real trouble is disharmony at home one needs to be honest instead of coming up with bizarre symptoms forcing the doctor to prescribe tranquilizer which may not cure the problem but addiction. The goal of harm reduction strategies and approaches is to reduce the negative consequences of drug abuse, not to eliminate the use of illicit drugs. Harm reduction is a practical approach that employs a range of different strategies with the goal of minimizing the risk of the client contracting infectious diseases, overdosing or suffering other consequences related to the use of substances. Strategies may include changing the way people consume the drugs or insuring that the environment in which they use minimizes the risk of negative consequences of their health (infectious, overdose) or quality of life Legal problems, social and familiar issues, etc). Strategies can vary depending on the drug, the type of harm related to its consumption and the individual who consumes the drugs. Bibliography 1. Mac Master, S. (2004). Harm Reduction: a new perspective on substance abuse services. Social Work. v49 i3 p356. 2. Reinarman, C. and Levine H. (1997). Crack in America: Demon Drugs and Social Justice. University of California Press. Ch 10, 17. 3. Smith, A. (2001). Americas Lonely Drug War. Mother Jones, United Kingdom, London page 41-45 4. Does harm reduction programming make a difference in the lives of highly marginalized, at-risk drug users? (2004). Academy of Educational Development. Retrieved May 4th 2006 from Harm Reduction Journal at harmreductionjournal. com/content/1/1/7 5. Kaplin, S. (1994). The Effects Of Harm Reduction Vs Harm Prevention: An International Assessment. Retrieved May 4th 2006 from Sarnia Online at sarnia. com 6. Clemency Mitchell, 2003 vibrant health in the twenty first century, England page 87-91 7. D. N Marshall 2009, A guide to family Health Grantham ,England page 29-63,