Question

Describe the role of Harm Reduction in addressing the opioid epidemic.

Answer 1

Harm reduction is a strategies that focus to reduce the harmful effect that is associated with the use of drugs in those people who are unable to stop.

There are many Harm reduction strategies to prevent opioid overdose.

1) To reduce the harmful effect caused by opioid first identified the signs of an opioid overdose.There are three symptoms a) Pinpoint pupils- Pupils become abnormally small in light. b) Unconsciousness c) Respiratory depression.

2) Use of Naloxone- It is an opioid antagonist that can tightly binds to opioid receptor, replaces other opioid that can be present there and prevent the binding of others opioids.Its recommended by WHO. Naloxone is used in order to reduce life threatening depression of respiratory system and central nervous system allowing a victim to breathe normally.

3) Safe injection sites- It is also known as Supervised injection sites, which is designed to reduce nuisance from public drug use. It provides a stress free environment where victim can inject their own illicit drugs intravenously under the guidance of health care service.It provide an equipment like sterile injection,knowledge about drugs and basic health care.There are various benefits of safe injection sites such as it reduces number of overdose death, provides an oppertunity to contact with health care staff who can help people with drug disorders, Reduces the risk of HIV.

4) Drug checking- This programm has the ability to reduce opioid related harm in the population, which allows a person to anonymously submit their drug samples which they have plan to consume for the purpose of drug analysis and it is used to confirm whether the drug sample contains psychoactive substance, to check the purity of drugs or to detect the contaminants.

5) Educate people/ Awareness- People may not recognize the signs of drug overdose so Its important to educate people about opioid crisis. International Overdose Awareness Day which is a global event held on 31st August each year that focus to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the death caused by drug and it also spreads the message among people that overdose death can be prevented.