Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors

Rating:
Summary: The manifesto of a new movement.
Review: If you are looking for an alternative to rigid, one-dimensional, abstinence-only approaches to substance abuse or HIV prevention, this book is the place to start. According to the harm reduction philosophy, abstinence is one end of a continuum of human behavior, and is not something that can be attained overnight by those most in need of help. As a professional working in this field, I find the book to be a welcome and thought-provoking summary of the various principles of the harm reduction model, and the basis of a reworking of outdated programs based on "one slip and you're out." Plenty of research data is provided to replace ideology with reality. Everyone will not agree with everything in this book, but it is going to be a point of departure for some time to come.