Safer Solutions: Harm Reduction Is Everywhere
Risk is everywhere—and it is easy to miscalculate. Harm reduction is a way of reducing risks when eliminating them is not possible or desirable. Although harm reduction is often associated with substance use, it has many more applications.
Most of us engage in at least one risky activity or behavior every day, even if it is only traveling in a car. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death and injury, but rather than never riding in cars, we use a tool intended to make this activity safer. Seat belts are a classic example of everyday harm reduction. Over time, car manufacturers have added additional safety devices like air bags, backup cameras, crash detection, and anti-lock brakes.
Harm reduction is on display when we visit the beach. Sunscreen can minimize potential harm from sun exposure. Flotation devices decrease the risk of drowning, especially for small children. Even having a lifeguard on duty is an example of harm reduction. Although swimming has risks, we put measures in place to reduce those risks for people who choose to swim.
Sporting activities also involve harm reduction. Helmets, shin guards, shoulder pads, and other protective equipment all reduce the risk of harm from playing sports. Injuries still happen—they are a risk many people accept when they play a sport or enroll their child in sports—but these harm reduction tools can reduce those risks. Concussion protocols are another harm reduction strategy that has become more common. Having an EMT on-site at bigger sporting events also reduces risk and potential harm in the event of a severe injury.
Building code is another place where harm reduction shines. Carbon monoxide detectors, smoke and fire alarms, easily accessible fire extinguishers and automatic defibrillators, sprinkler systems, maximum occupancy rules, and doors that open in the direction of exit all reduce the risk of harm during an emergency.
Ultimately, most harm reduction is about preserving life and health, so it is no surprise that there are many examples in healthcare. With genetic testing, people can determine if they have an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer. In consultation with medical providers, some people with this genetic risk factor elect to have preventative hysterectomies or mastectomies to decrease their cancer risk. Pacemakers are another example of healthcare harm reduction, as is controlling blood pressure and other health metrics through diet and exercise. Autoinjectors (often referred to as EpiPens) reduce risk for people with severe allergies.
Most everyday harm reduction does not carry the same stigma as harm reduction for smoking, substance use, or sexual health, even though it operates in the same way. We acknowledge that many of our behaviors carry risks and use numerous tools to make daily life less risky. From smartwatches that call emergency services when they sense a fall to handrails on staircases, harm reduction is everywhere.