Harm Reduction Does Nothing to Prevent or Treat Drug Addiction
A drug addict using clean needles can still be killed by the heroin inside.
Proponents of the harm reduction approach to drug addiction believe that teaching addicts how to use drugs safely is the best approach to curb the negative effects of drug abuse. However, it seems unlikely that persons in the throes of addiction, and frequently high, will be the best of students.
In fact, in a growing problem among harm reduction clinics many staff members are using drugs. Several deaths have marked this type of approach to drug treatment.
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Prior to admission to a drug rehab or The following are different care levels:
Brief Intervention and Therapy
This is a course of treatment which is typically very brief, but can be very effective. For example simply going to an assessment to learn about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Someone who racks up their first DUI while on a holiday binge but does not have an established pattern of abuse is a good candidate for this treatment level. It is usually a short alcohol education course.
Detoxification
Detox is not actual addiction treatment as such. The objective here is to provide a safe environment for an intoxicated person to return to normalcy. When the patient is no longer intoxicated and deemed safe, they are released. For acute and long term cases of addiction, medically supervised detox is strongly recommended, since there is the risk of seizures. Detoxification is usually a requirement for entering an addiction treatment program.
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