Latest / Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor / What harm reduction strategies exist?
Transcript
- 0:00SPEAKER_00: Harm reduction strategies focus on safer drug use and recognise that despite efforts to prevent and treat substance use, that such abstinence-based approaches are not always effective or appropriate.
- 0:11SPEAKER_00: In such cases, these initiatives and strategies aim to reduce the harmful effects that substance use can have on an individual and on others from your drug use.
- 0:21SPEAKER_00: Such harm reduction initiatives involve needle and syringe exchange schemes, the development of drug consumption rooms, which are legally designated facilities where individuals can consume illicit drugs under the supervision of trained healthcare staff, the availability of drug testing kits which can be used to see if drugs have been contaminated, and the access to naloxone training and its distribution.
- 0:44SPEAKER_00: Other than the above harm reduction initiatives, there are also harm reduction guidelines to help keep yourself and other drug users safe.
- 0:51SPEAKER_00: These strategies include not using drugs alone and to always tell someone else what you've taken, to always use clean needles and to not share equipment used to inject, to not mix drugs with other drugs, including alcohol or prescription medication, if involved in an energy exerting activity such as dancing, to ensure you take breaks to cool off and to sip water slowly, to think of your surroundings and to use only where it's safe, to know what you were taking, to never drive or use machinery after taking substances, to always get help if you're worried about a friend, and to give the medical professionals as much information as possible about the substance they've taken.
- 1:33SPEAKER_00: To place sleeping or unconscious friends in the recovery position, to practice safe sex, to begin by using a small amount such as a quarter of a pill, or to wait a couple of hours before taking more, or to crush up pills, dab in a wet finger to taste, and then wait an hour or two.
- 1:51SPEAKER_00: To have an overdose plan, carrying eloxone, and to make sure you and those close to you are trained in its use and know what to look out for in signs of overdose.
- 2:02SPEAKER_00: It can also be a good idea to have a designated driver plan, which can be aimed at reducing the number of road accidents and deaths and ensuring everybody gets home safely.
- 2:11SPEAKER_00: If you are concerned about your substance use or that of a loved one or a friend, contact your local substance use recovery service.
- 2:19SPEAKER_00: If you are thinking about harming yourself or feel unsafe, please seek urgent support via a crisis helpline or local emergency service.