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Harm Reduction in Practice

Harm Reduction in Practice

Harm Reduction in Practice

apa citation and reference

  • Describe the rationale for Idea Exchange staff providing clean needles to program clients. In your description be sure to explain how needle exchange fits into the program’s overall service offerings.
  • Select two NASW ethical principles and explain how harm reduction aligns with these principles.
  • Although harm reduction is an evidence-based practice, some professionals worry that it hinders rather than helps recovery. Describe your own attitudes toward harm reduction and explain how evidence could inform your practice and allay any concerns.

 

Harm Reduction in Practice

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APA

Harm Reduction in Practice

The Idea Exchange Program provides clean needles to clients as part of a harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. By supplying sterile syringes, the program helps prevent needle sharing, which is a major transmission route for bloodborne infections. Additionally, needle exchange programs serve as entry points for broader healthcare services, including HIV testing, substance use treatment referrals, and education on safer drug use. The initiative aligns with public health efforts to minimize harm while offering non-judgmental support to individuals struggling with substance use (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2021).

Ethical Principles and Harm Reduction

Harm reduction aligns with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics in multiple ways:

  1. Dignity and Worth of the Person
    • Harm reduction respects individuals’ rights to make their own choices while promoting health and safety. Instead of criminalizing or stigmatizing substance use, it acknowledges the complexity of addiction and meets clients where they are in their recovery journey.
  2. Service
    • Social workers prioritize the well-being of individuals and communities. Providing clean needles is a public health intervention that reduces harm, ultimately preventing long-term health consequences and…