Harm reduction approaches are effective patient-driven alternatives to abstinence-based
treatment for people who are not ready willing or able to stop using substances. This volume
outlines the scientific basis and historical development of these approaches and reviews why
abstinence-based approaches often do not work. The authors then share their expertise about
harm reduction treatment (HaRT) an empirically based approach co-developed with community
members impacted by substance-related harm - a first of its kind. The reader learns in detail
about the pragmatic mindset and compassionate heartset of HaRT and the three treatment
components: measurement and tracking of patient-preferred substance-related metrics
harm-reduction goal setting and achievement and discussion of safer-use strategies. This
volume walks practitioners through all components provides example scripts for use in daily
practice and illustrates the work through case studies and input from community members.
Handouts are available for use in daily practice. This is essential reading for clinical
psychologists psychotherapists and researchers who encounter people who have substance-use
problems.
