Most of what we all see and hear with regard to substance abuse and addiction has a goal of abstinence. A contrasting approach has the sole goal of reducing harm done by people who use drugs and/ or alcohol. This effort can take many different forms. Public health initiatives to provide clean needles to heroin addicts to prevent spread of HIV, are on aspect of  Harm Reduction. On an individual basis, counseling people who either do not want to be clean and sober or do not think they are capable of becoming clean and sober so that they can minimize the harm that would come to them.  This can include helping users to set limits on their use  in terms of limiting frequency or such safety measures as having a designated driver, having Narcan (Naloxone) available.

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Links to pages on this website related to this topic:  

• Full article:  Harm Reduction Model  (members/ subscribers)
• Introduction to Substance Abuse and Addiction  (open to public)
• Full article on Substance Abuse and Addiction  (members/ subscribers)
• Old format guidelines on addiction and substance abuse  (public access, still recommended reading)
• New Definition of Addiction (Old Format)  Some readers tell us they still find this helpful. The ASAM definition of addiction is more precise, but some readers say they understand that better after reading this Old Format entry. 
• See related article on Twelve Step Resources
  • Demographics Impacting Twelve Step Recovery
  • Powerless 
• See Related article on Twelve Step Alternatives
• See Related article on Christian Recovery
  • Twelve Step and Christian Recovery
  • Teen Challenge an example of Christian Recovery
  • Celebrate Recovery an example of Christian Recovery

• See Related article on The Destructive Battle over Recovery Methods
• See Related article on History of Differences over Treatment Resources
• See related article on The Seven Challenges
• See related article on Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, Transtheoretical Model
• See related article on Dr. Lance Dodes  (influential at Cedar Ridge Academy)   
• See related article on Process Addictions
• See related article on Interventions and Interventionists

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Links to relevant information on other websites:

• ASAM Definition of Addiction
• Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
• Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous
• Alcoholics Anonymous -- Official Website
• Alcoholics Anonymous -- Wikipedia Listing
• Frank Buchman -- Founder of Oxford Group
• Oxford Group -- Wikipedia
• Sam Shoemaker -- Wikipedia
• Twelve Steps and Traditions -- With explanation,  Official AA
• Twelve Steps (for people with no prior knowledge)  -- Wikipedia

Last update August 10, 2018