Harm Reduction Services to Prevent and Treat Infectious Diseases in People Who Use Drugs

Kinna Thakarar; Katherine Nenninger; Wollelaw Agmas

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2020.06.013

Harm Reduction Services to Prevent and Treat Infectious Diseases in People Who Use Drugs

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;34(3):605-620. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2020.06.013.

Authors

Kinna Thakarar¹, Katherine Nenninger², Wollelaw Agmas³

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Disease and Addiction Medicine, Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, 50 Foden Road, South Portland, ME 04106, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Preventive Medicine, Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102, USA.
³ Infectious Disease, Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102, USA.

Abstract

This article reviews the principles of harm reduction, evidence-based harm reduction strategies such as syringe service programs and supervised injection facilities, and provides approaches to integrating a harm reduction approach into clinical practice. As providers strive to increase capacity to treat underlying substance use disorder, we must also recognize that some people may continue to use drugs. In this setting, providers can still deliver nonjudgmental, individualized care, and advocate for the health and safety of people who inject drugs.

Keywords: Harm reduction; PWID; People who inject drugs; Preventive health services; Social justice.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Communicable Disease Control / methods*
Communicable Diseases / etiology
Communicable Diseases / therapy*
Evidence-Based Medicine
Harm Reduction*
Humans
Needle-Exchange Programs
Social Justice
Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
Substance Abuse, Intravenous / prevention & control*

Grants and funding

U54 GM115516/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States