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Harm Reduction - Theory and Practice

About the course: So many workers, when asked, say that they work from a "harm reduction" perspective. But push further, and ask what they mean by this most don't get much beyond needle exchange. This course was designed so that workers could see beyond needle exchange and look at the wide range of other harm reduction interventions that they could explore.

The course can be combined with a one-day needle-exchange course to make a "HR and IV" course.

Who the course is for: all workers who engage with ongoing users and need to deliver harm reduction interventions. Previous drugs training is essential

Duration: two days (one day at a push)

Objectives: By the end of the course, workers will be able to:

explain key reasons for adopting a harm reduction approach
critique the pros and cons of harm reduction
discuss ethical issues within harm reduction
illustrate stages within the cycle of change to introduce harm reduction
describe harm reduction interventions on a drug by drug basis
apply harm reduction in practice scenarios
recognise examples of drug related harm

Issues covered in course:

What is harm reduction;
A short history of Harm Reduction
Pros and cons of harm reduction
Worker and client characteristics for Harm Reduction
Priorities in harm reduction
Harm Reduction on a substance by substance basis
Key indicators of harm
Smoking and rectal administration
Scenarios
Ethics and dilemmas

Format: Taught sections, small groups work and work in pairs, homework and group discussion.

Handouts: Presentation slides, course notes and scenarios

DANOS Modules: AA2, AA6, AB2, AB4, AB5, AB8. AD1, AFR2,

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