Key messages
Harm reduction is a political movement, a philosophy and a particular set of principles. It informs policies, programs and practices that aim to reduce harms associated with drug use, drug policies and drug laws.
Harm reduction is consistent with public health approaches that aim to promote health and wellness in communities. Harm reduction is informed by strong evidence, and is effective, safe and cost-effective in diverse settings.
For community-based workers, harm reduction can include everyday practices that support people to stay safer while using drugs. This includes education on safer drug-use or overdose response, distributing harm reduction equipment, supervised consumption, drug-checking, or helping them access a range of health and social services to address basic needs.
Harm reduction accepts that people use drugs for many different reasons. It does not aim to reduce or eliminate drug use itself.
Harm reduction involves working with people who use drugs to help them meet their self-identified needs. This includes acceptance that people use drugs for many different reasons, and not aiming to reduce or eliminate drug use itself.
People who use drugs are experts in harm reduction and their involvement is critical to ensure that services meet community needs.</s
Ensuring that services are as welcoming and accepting as possible is a key part of harm reduction. Being non-judgmental and “meeting people where they are at” is fundamental to harm reduction practice.
What does this mean locally / at your organization?
We suggest you chat with your supervisor and/or colleagues and learn about the following:
- How does your organization work within a harm reduction approach?
- What does taking a harm reduction approach look like in your role?
- What agencies does your organization partner with for harm reduction work?
- How can your team meaningfully involve people with lived or living experience to inform your work?
Training modules
Harm Reduction Fundamentals: A toolkit for service providers
This toolkit provides foundational information on harm reduction for service providers working with people who use drugs (including support workers, outreach workers, nurses and workers with lived and living experience). It was developed by CATIE in partnership with a working group of organizations, agencies and networks across Canada that have expertise and leadership experience in harm reduction.
The toolkit contains four units that can be accessed individually or completed together for a more comprehensive overview of harm reduction fundamentals. The four units are:
Unit 1: Setting a foundation for harm reduction
Unit 2: Harm reduction principles and practices
Unit 3: Drug use, health and harm reduction
Unit 4: Supporting harm reduction service provider capacity
Each unit should take approximately one hour to complete; however, there will be variability depending on the unit and the level of engagement with content, videos, reflection questions and external links. We suggest setting aside four hours total if you plan to complete all four units.
Learn more
- Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program – find harm reduction supplies
- Ontario Network of People who use Drugs – learn more about engaging with people who use drugs
- Where to? (CATIE) – Find harm reduction services
- Ontario Naloxone Program – learn more about naloxone in Ontario.