Book contents
- The Opioid Epidemic
- The Opioid Epidemic
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I The Origins of Addiction
- Part II Recognizing That a Problem Exists
- Part III The Treatment Plan
- 9 Detoxification: How Do We Get Ourselves Off Opioids?
- 10 Outpatient Treatment Modalities
- 11 The True Cost of Opioid Addiction Treatment
- 12 Harm-Reduction, Legal Issues, Drug Court and Other Alternatives to Discipline
- Part IV Recovery
- Appendix: Additional Content and Resources
- Index
- References
12 - Harm-Reduction, Legal Issues, Drug Court and Other Alternatives to Discipline
from Part III - The Treatment Plan
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2023
Book contents
- The Opioid Epidemic
- The Opioid Epidemic
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I The Origins of Addiction
- Part II Recognizing That a Problem Exists
- Part III The Treatment Plan
- 9 Detoxification: How Do We Get Ourselves Off Opioids?
- 10 Outpatient Treatment Modalities
- 11 The True Cost of Opioid Addiction Treatment
- 12 Harm-Reduction, Legal Issues, Drug Court and Other Alternatives to Discipline
- Part IV Recovery
- Appendix: Additional Content and Resources
- Index
- References
Summary
Harm reduction refers to a set of strategies aimed to limit the negative consequences associated with drug use, but without requiring complete abstinence. Some harm-reduction strategies aim to reduce the risk of overdose, such as the use of naloxone rescue kits, fentanyl testing strips, and implementation of Good Samaritan laws. Other strategies lower the risk of overdose but also the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Syringe services programs, also referred to as needle exchange programs, and supervised consumption facilities all fall under this category. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), which include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, have been proven to lower the risk of overdose, improve the likelihood of maintaining sobriety, and therefore lower rates of disease transmission. Finally, harm reduction is utilized in criminal justice system through the use of drug decriminalization, police diversion programs, and drug treatment courts.
Keywords
harm reductionnaloxonegood samaritanfentanyl testing stripssyringe services programsneedle exchange programsneedle and syringe programshepatitisHIVsupervised injection sitessupervised consumption facilitiesmedications for opioid use disordermedication-assisted treatmentMOUDmethadonebuprenorphinenaltrexoneheroinpregnancyneonatal abstinence syndromeNASdecriminalizationjailprisonpolicedrug courts
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Opioid EpidemicOrigins, Current State and Potential Solutions, pp. 144 - 162Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023
References
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