Harm reduction

With the dramatic increase in opioid-related deaths and growing evidence of the benefits of harm reduction in supporting individuals living with, and families impacted by, substance use, we recognize the need to reaffirm our support for integrating harm reduction into the care RNs and NPs provide.

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction strives to reduce the consequences of actions that have an increased risk of negative health outcomes.

Within the context of substance use, harm reduction refers to policies, programs and practices that aim to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of legal and illegal psychoactive drug use without necessarily reducing drug consumption. Harm reduction benefits people who use drugs, their families and the community (CNA, 2017).

Resources

Practice Standards for Regulated Members (pdf)

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Integrating a Harm Reduction Approach to Nursing (pdf)

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Harm Reduction and Substance Use (pdf)

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Case study: Providing care with compassion

Harm reduction in Alberta (page 23)

Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

Canadian Nurses Association harm reduction resources

Management of Substance Use in Acute Care Settings in Alberta: Guidance Document

To learn more about harm reduction within the context of substance use and its implications for nursing practice:

Engage in harm reduction education and integrate the principles into learning activities within your continuing competence plan.
Contact a policy and practice consultant for questions related to your practice at practice@nurses.ab.ca or 780.451.0043 (toll free 1.800.252.9392).
Contact the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) with questions related to harm reduction.