11.8 Chapter Summary
Key Summary Points
- HR is an evidenced-based, client centered, pragmatic, public health orientation to substance use, substance-use services, and control policies.
- HR services are essential in preventing many of the harms linked with substance use. They serve to lessen the likelihood of long-term health complications of substance use, reduce the likelihood of toxic drug poisoning events and deaths, and improve overall health and well-being.
- HR works to address the stigma associated with substance use and SUDs. Through reducing stigma and providing needed support and resources, HR initiatives help PWUS and people experiencing SUDs to access needed health and social services.
- Involving people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) is essential in the design, implementation and evaluation of HR polices and programs.
Additional Resources
Below are a list of supplementary resources for students interested in learning more about the chapter topics. These resources are NOT required course materials. A list of required course materials, beyond those found throughout this chapter, are provided on the following page.
Additional Viewings
CBC. (2008). Staying Alive [Video]. The Fifth Estate. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1367469592
Additional Readings
COM-CAP & Public Health Ontario. (September 2023). Substance use services with, and for, Indigenous Communities. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/S/2023/substance-use-services-indigenous-communities.pdf?rev=c50da5f26fea491caf6bfc937a0d9060&sc_lang=en
Interagency Coalition on AIDS. (March 19, 2021). Indigenous harm reduction = Reducing the harms of colonialism. https://caan.ca/tools-and-resources/resource/indigenous-harm-reduction-reducing-the-harms-of-colonialism/
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). (2019). Health, rights & drugs: Harm reduction, decriminalization and zero discrimination for people who use drugs. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/JC2954_UNAIDS_drugs_report_2019_en.pdf
Websites
Harm Reduction International. (n.d.). https://www.hri.global/
National Harm Reduction Coalition. (n.d.). https://harmreduction.org/
Ontario Harm Reduction Network. (n.d.). https://ohrn.org/
