Harm Reduction as a Form of ‘Wrap-Around’ Care: The Nursing Role

Abstract

In addiction treatment, harm reduction is a philosophy that aims to reduce the harms from ongoing alcohol and other drug use. Although abstinence may be the ‘gold standard’ in reducing harm from ongoing alcohol and other drug use, harm reduction recognises that abstinence may not be achievable for certain individuals. Accordingly, harm reduction is used to enable medical or mental health treatment for individuals who continue to use alcohol and other drugs, providing a form of care which meets individuals where they present to healthcare facilities. Harm reduction accepts ongoing alcohol and other drug use, while providing a traditionally marginalised cohort of individuals access to healthcare services. In this perspective paper, we argue that the role of nurses in promoting and utilising harm reduction as part of their regular practice is essential to both reducing harm from alcohol and other drug use, engaging individuals who use alcohol and other drugs in healthcare services, and providing a means to accept individuals as they are to build trust and rapport for engagement in addiction treatment when they are ready, and at their own pace. Nurses, by virtue of their role and number in the healthcare landscape (approximately 28 million globally), are ideally placed to implement harm reduction in their practice to achieve better outcomes for individuals who use alcohol and other drugs.