Needle exchange is just one part of these policies that try to bring a pragmatic, realistic, and societally effective perspective to the problem through helping and treating drug addicts rather than punishing and imprisoning them. The concept of harm reduction is even more important here in the U.S., where there are so few drug treatment slots available. An addict kicking his or her drug habit is a wonderful thing, but drug addiction is a chemical dependency - ending such a condition can rarely be accomplished without help. In the United States, there are far too many drug addicts and far too few treatment opportunities to expect drug use to simply stop. The harm reduction model acknowledges this current situation, and does not set complete abstinence as its only measure of success.
Harm reduction is a model that was born from the drug situation and the people involved themselves.
Rather than ignoring the positive changes that can be made even without immediate abstinence, harm reduction embraces those as a crucial part of reducing the harm of the drugs that have always and inevitably been a part of our society. For more information on the history, principles, and practices of harm reduction, please feel free to visit any of the sites listed below. All sites listed are also listed in the Library section of this site. Also see the main site of the Harm Reduction Coalition for more information. A Very Good Idea Robert W. Westermeyer, Ph.D. A short but informative article on the concept of harm reduction.