Abstinence Versus Harm Reduction

Abstract

This paper is about assimilating some ways that people try to help those who overuse alcohol or drugs. For example, another approach is referred to as harm reduction, which tries to make the environment for a drug user safer even without the demand to stop using drugs immediately. The other mode is referred to as abstinence-only, which urges people to terminate their access to drugs altogether. This paper argues that harm reduction is a superior strategy since it can reduce undesirable effects that can happen to specific categories of people. Then, we shall examine studies that have been done and find out which reasons make harm reduction so effective.

Introduction

Hallucinations and anxiety are two symptoms frequently experienced by people who abuse alcohol or drugs. Such an issue can badly endanger their health, their families, and their communities. What people don’t know is that people have tried numerous ways to help. Two of such approaches are harm reduction and abstinence-only. The harm reduction implies offering people safety even if they consume some drugs in spite of that. Abstinence-only is the complete and permanent abstention from drugs. This article argues for two reasons why harm reduction is a better choice. It is more adjustable and supports people in a way that they can understand it well. We will base our explanation on studies done by experts, which show the reason behind it.

Harm Reduction Approaches

Overview and Strengths

Harm reduction, in this case, implies that drug use may be made safer for the people who choose to use drugs. It would involve things like offering needles that are clean to people who inject drugs, as well as having facilities where one can use drugs under the supervision of a medical professional. An enormous study done by Ginley et al. (2021) showed that when a harm reduction practice called contingency management rewards people for not using drugs, it assists people in abstaining from using drugs for the long term. This shows harm reduction can actually achieve its goal.

Additionally, harm reduction helps to cut the stigma that people feel towards drug abusers. According to Muncan et al. (2020), people who use drugs feel alienated and mistake the local people for judging them. Harm reduction might assure them that they will feel welcome and not judged. As a result, feeling welcome often leads people to approach others and thus improve their well-being. Furthermore, harm reduction can reach a lot of people because it knows that not all the ones using drugs are ready to fully stop drug use. It is their call and their choice; hence, they are respected. They can do this by making treatment more acceptable to more people and reducing the need to immediately quit using drugs completely.

Limitations

On the other side, not everyone believes that harm reduction is the right thing at all. The others might be afraid this will look like I am telling them it’s all right to use drugs. Rosenberg et al. (2020) point out that in some cases, there are individuals who would not settle for medications that don’t target complete cessation of drug use. They believe maybe it would not overcome the issue. On the other hand, harm reduction has its problems. For instance, not all zones are equipped with harm reduction programs. Additionally, these services may not be perfect and may even lack the resources to help everyone. This implies some of the individuals do not get the assistance they require when they require it the most. But despite all these difficulties, harm reduction is helping a lot of people. It provides assistance that can be customized to fit people’s different life circumstances. This flexibility is a plus because more people have the avenue to access help according to their schedule and convenience.

Abstinence-Only Approaches

Overview and Strengths

Abstinence is attempting to eliminate using drugs or alcohol entirely. According to this approach, teaching people not to use drugs would be the best solution to the problem. According to this approach, the takeaway is that a drugs-free life is the best outcome. Such programs generally consist of lectures, lessons, and support groups that are designed to keep the patient away from the drugs.

Furthermore, this approach is founded on the perspective that not taking any drugs at all is the healthiest way out for all. As explained by Wiggins (2020), educating students about living without drugs can also hold values and help them make better life decisions. The fact that abstinence-only can mean more than just stopping taking drugs presents it as not only an alternative to drug use bu