How Should Harm Reduction Be Included in Care Continua for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder?

Abstract

Practices and interventions that aim to slow progression or reduce negative consequences of substance use are harm reduction strategies. Often described as a form of tertiary prevention, harm reduction is key to caring well for people who use drugs. Evidence-based harm reduction interventions include naloxone and syringe service programs. Improving equitable outcomes for those with opioid use disorder (OUD) requires access to the continuum of evidence-based OUD care, including harm reduction interventions, as well as dismantling policies that undermine mental health and substance use disorder treatment continuity, housing stability, and education and employment opportunities.