Practical harm reduction for people who drink

When abstinence isn't realistic, a harm reduction approach supports people to make changes at their own pace and according to their own priorities. The underlying ethos is that any positive change is to be embraced. ​

This course offers insight and understanding into the theory of harm reduction and provides practical implementable strategies that can be used to reduce alcohol harm to people who drink alcohol.

Half day course

• Discuss the concept of and rationale for harm reduction
• Identify a wide range of potential harms for the individual user and their impact on others

• Use a range of harm reduction techniques with clients
• Be able to access online resources that support health and reduce harm

Additional Course Learning Objectives for the 1-day course

• Discuss the concept of and rationale for, harm reduction
• Identify a wide range of potential harms for the individual user and their impact on others
• Discuss how the potential for alcohol and drug related harm has increased during recent years
• Consider embedding harm reduction across an organisation

• Explore ways of reducing harm from an individual, community and societal perspective
• Use a range of harm reduction techniques with clients
• Be able to access online resources that support health and reduce harm

Additional Course Learning Objectives for the 2-day course

• State the principles of harm reduction
• Identify the benefits and criticisms of a harm reduction approach to substance misuse
• Describe the risks associated with specific drugs and routes of administration
• Use Alcohol Change's Blue Light Model to reduce harm to alcohol users
• Explore ethical issues relating to harm reduction