Relias: Harm Reduction in Substance Use

What is harm reduction?

An intervention to reduce the negative effects of substance use.

What is naloxone?

An opioid antagonist with no abuse potential that is used to reverse opioid overdose

Which of the following is the best example of a harm reduction strategy used by MAT providers?

Check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for recent prescriptions of benzodiazepines.

AJ sees a poster for a needle exchange program and decides to go check it out. Which of the following services will AJ likely find at a needle exchange program?

Communicable disease testing

From a harm reduction perspective, what is the role of a provider?

Help clients define their own goals.

Terry is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and alcohol use disorder. What course of care would be most beneficial to Terry?

Medication-assisted treatment and psychotherapy

Which of the following is an example of how medication-assisted treatment incorporates harm reduction principles?

Provides training on and access to a naloxone kit for all clients, family members, and peers to help prevent overdose deaths

Among the benefits of the needle exchange programs are:

They can cater to hard-to-reach and diverse populations and can adapt to types of drugs used

True or False: A harm reduction approach is far more beneficial with clients who are not ready to stop their substance use.

True

True or False? Harm reduction strategies aim to empower individuals who misuse substances to make their own decisions and define recovery in their own terms.

True

Jim is worried about overdosing but wants to continue using heroin. Which harm reduction strategy would be helpful for Jim?

Use a fentanyl test strip