Talk:Harm reduction

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Needs a "Philosophy" and "Origin" Section

Latest comment: 8 months ago5 comments2 people in discussion

I believe that a more detailed break down of harm reduction philosophy and origins should be included- the article focuses mainly on substances, which are of course relevant, but glosses over that this was a movement started by people who use drugs as a way to care for one another in the absence of compassionate and effective public health services. There is a large amount of history missing from this article without it's inclusion.Wizard-semantics (talk) 15:46, 27 November 2025 (UTC)Reply

I'm pretty dubious about this - perhaps a particular American pov. I think there's too much emphasis on "drugs" - where is tobacco in particular. Johnbod (talk) 16:36, 27 November 2025 (UTC)Reply

What makes you dubious about adding an origin of the movement? Can you be more specific about your concerns? Wizard-semantics (talk) 17:33, 27 November 2025 (UTC)Reply

Outside the US, I'm dubious that it is "a movement started by people who use drugs as a way to care for one another in the absence of compassionate and effective public health services". In Europe and elsewhere, I think it is more a health strategy mainly devised by professionals and implemented precisely in "compassionate and effective public health services". (American) Starter paper on history re tobacco Johnbod (talk) 18:41, 27 November 2025 (UTC)Reply

I think we might be running into a similar issue- Harm reduction is now a broad enough topic that the term references several different methodologies or "traditions". I think the whole page could benefit from additional organizational structure- see your point about tobacco. Wizard-semantics (talk) 19:06, 27 November 2025 (UTC)Reply

Semi-protected edit request on 11 January 2026

Latest comment: 6 months ago2 comments2 people in discussion

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Suggest addition to "Further Reading" Section: Vakharia, S. P. (2024). The harm reduction gap: helping individuals left behind by conventional drug prevention and abstinence-only addiction treatment. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003301745

hyperlink - https://search.worldcat.org/title/1414176057

Thanks! Dubnobasswithmyheadman (talk) 23:04, 11 January 2026 (UTC)Reply

Done Day Creature (talk) 15:08, 12 January 2026 (UTC)Reply

This page was redesigned at the edge.

A page that knows where it met you.

Talk:Harm reduction

Needs a "Philosophy" and "Origin" Section

Semi-protected edit request on 11 January 2026