In the spirit of 420, and the recent focus on the decriminalization of marijuana, talking about harm reduction: what it means and why we believe in it seems like a good idea.
To start, harm reduction can be described
“as a strategy directed toward individuals or groups that aims to reduce the harms associated with certain behaviours”. It’s simply a set of practical strategies and ideas that are aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with harm. It’s humane, realistic and a proven approach to addressing issues of substance abuse. Some examples of harm reduction are:
- Free condoms;
- Needle-exchange programs;
- Designated driver programs;
- Bans on smoking in public places to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke;
- Access to and use of methadone and supervised injection sites.
Harm reduction is important to us because when we view substance use as a response to violence and abuse, it shifts the approach from focusing on substance use as a problem to seeing substance use as a woman’s harm reduction strategy. In our experience, we know women have learned to adapt to experiences of abuse and violence in order to survive, escape and cope. Some women have shared that they would use substances to avoid feeling the physical and emotional pain of being harmed by a partner.
For us, we know that in women’s shelters, for example, substance use among women has been estimated to range from 33 per cent to 86 per cent and approximately two-thirds of women accessing anti-violence services report that they began their problematic substance use following experiences of violence in their relationships. Most research indicates that substance use is disproportionately high among people experiencing homelessness and those that are using substances are more likely to face housing instability.
So imagine trying to tell someone who is experiencing homelessness or has experienced violence, along with the significant instability that comes with both, the only way they can get housing is by being sober, but to cope with the trauma they’ve experienced they use substances. It seems wholly unfair to demand angelic behaviour while knowing the challenging situations a person faces every day.
When we support vulnerable women without the requirement of being sober to access services, we know we take steps in support women as they need our support. We ensure their safety first, and if they chose, we support them with their substance use.
Harm reduction gives vulnerable women the chance to survive and the possibility of a bright future by meeting them where they are and as they need. Engaging in harm reduction principles actually allows us to keep our communities safer and our citizens healthier.
The proof is in the pudding.
