“Harm reduction” interventions for substance use—measures like needle exchange programs and methadone distribution that aim to reduce the adverse effects of substance use, rather than punish or prevent it—have been repeatedly shown to lower the risk of overdoses, mortality, and drug-related crime. But in many communities in rural America, there is a stigma attached to these approaches. Consequently, policymakers and health professionals in some communities have hesitated to implement or recommend harm-reduction measures, fearing backlash.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
