How to Reduce Harm?

Empowering people who use drugs to choose to live healthy, self-directed, and purpose-filled lives. 

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction is a key pillar in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy. Exactly as it sounds, harm reduction is reducing the harm associated with using drugs through a variety of public health interventions.

Harm reduction is a needed resource to support people who use drugs and their loved ones. Currently, in the United States, we are experiencing the most significant substance use and overdose epidemic we have ever faced. In 2022 alone there were more than 100,000 drug-involved overdose deaths.

Harm reduction is an evidence-based, practical and transformative approach that incorporates community-driven public health strategies that empower people who use drugs (and their families) with the resources and knowledge to choose to live healthy, self-directed and purpose-filled lives.

Why is harm reduction important?

At its foundation, harm reduction is important in order to save lives and protect the health of both people who use drugs and those around them. Harm reduction also is important in decreasing the stigma around drug use, increasing education on safer substance use, encouraging safe sex, and connecting people who use drugs with local resources such as support groups and health care.

Ways to reduce harm?

Harm reduction incorporates a number of community driven strategies that include: prevention, risk reduction and health promotion. At Unity Recovery Services, we work with local partners to provide a number of service to reduce harm to the communities we serve including:

• Providing information on strategies and methods to reduce the harmful effects of drug and alcohol use;
• Education on overdose reversal and training services;
• Information on and referrals to HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care services;
• Referral to hepatitis a and hepatitis b vaccinations to reduce risk of viral hepatitis infection;
• Education on HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and referral to treatment services;
• and Information on local resources and/or referrals for prep.

All of our services have the same goal to allow us to meet people wherever they are on their journey to recovery. Through harm reduction services, we hope to continue building a culture that supports recovery for our community.

Support is available

At Unity Recovery Services we are dedicated to reducing harm caused by substance use in our communities. By engaging directly with persons who use drugs, we know we can prevent overdoses and infectious diseases, improve individuals’ physical, mental and social well being, and offer access to substance use disorder treatment and other health care services.

Learn more and reach out to us for support today at [email protected].