Harm Reduction Theory

Harm Reduction Theory (HRT) seeks to reduce harms associated with high‐risk behaviors without aiming for the discontinuation of these behaviors. The concept was first introduced in the 1960s for substance abuse prevention, but it gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s due to the emergence of HIV cases across the world. Ever since, HRT has been successfully implemented for public health issues such as alcohol addiction, tobacco consumption, and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Four main beliefs have been identified that guide harm reduction approaches. First, the extent of risk is continuous and not dichotomous. Second, the discontinuation of unhealthy behaviors is a stepwise process with complete abstinence being the last step. Third, the health of affected individuals takes priority over passing moral judgments on their behavior. Fourth, goal setting for harm reduction (HR) practices needs to be realistic. Over the last several years, numerous studies have established the efficacy of HRT integration in health communication campaigns. Some of these include needle exchange programs to prevent infectious disease transmission, opioid substitution programs, and message framing around protected sex. However, ethical, and administrative issues such as allowing the continuation of risky behaviors, and limited awareness about HR resources have also been raised. Despite these limitations, HRT continues to be a part of successful HC campaigns directed toward harm regulation and risk communication.