Challenges to Implementing the Harm Reduction Approach

Mancini, Michael A.; Linhorst, Donald M.; Broderick, Francie; Bayliff, Scott

doi:10.1080/15332560802224576

Cited by 27 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…These articles range from position pieces promoting harm reduction philosophy as something aligned with our values (Bigler 2005;Brocato and Wagner 2003;Lushin and Anastas 2011;Macmaster 2004;Reid 2002;Seiger 2003;Straussner 2012;van Wormer 2004) to empirical outcome studies of the approach in various settings (Davis et al 2014;Karoll 2010;Mancini et al 2008;Witkiewitz 2005). In addition, social workers have published articles relating to harm reduction in other professional journals (Henwood et al 2014;Lee et al 2011;Little 2006, Little andFranskoviak 2010;Little et al 2008).…”

Section: Harm Reduction and Social Work: Natural Partnersmentioning

confidence: 96%

Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice

Vakharia

Little

2016

Clin Soc Work J

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Harm reduction has gradually entered social work discourse and is now seen as a promising approach for treating individuals with drug and alcohol problems. However, beyond statements and data supporting the utility of a harm reduction approach, few guidelines for clinical practice have been detailed in the social work literature. This lack of concrete detail regarding how harm reduction is actually practiced limits the potential implementation of the model into day-to-day clinical work. This article reiterates that harm reduction is a viable approach to clinical social work practice with individuals who have drug-and alcohol-related problems and for whom traditional approaches may be inappropriate. It focuses on harm reduction therapy as an emerging treatment model that can be implemented by clinical social workers and mentalhealth and substance use treatment providers. The article identifies and elaborates several basic tenets that can be incorporated into clinical social work. It is hoped that social workers who learn how harm reduction is implemented in clinical practice will be more apt to incorporate its principles into their work.

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Section: Harm Reduction and Social Work: Natural Partnersmentioning

confidence: 96%

Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice

Vakharia

Little

2016

Clin Soc Work J

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“…Thus, even during the infancy of this country, the complete abstinence from alcohol was deemed crucial to recovery. While programs exist today that allow for a reduction in alcohol consumption for those diagnosed as substance dependent (i.e., harm reduction models of recovery), ultimately the goal for most is complete abstinence from alcohol use (Mancini, Linhorst, Broderick & Bayliff, 2008).For this reason and due to historical precedence, recovery for the present study will be defined as complete abstinence from substances. …”

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confidence: 99%

Correlates of Recovery from Substance Use Disorders

Gilbert

2018

Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions

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This retrospective study examined the factors affecting recovery from alcohol dependence and drug dependence. A convenience sample of 263 respondents with varying lengths of recovery from a national recovery community organization and a Connecticut-based recovery community organization completed an anonymous on-line survey. The survey, which used both closed-ended and open-ended questions, was designed to collect information on drug and alcohol use and factors that contributed to the respondents' recovery from substance dependence during the respondents' first year of recovery. Recovery capital, which has its theoretical foundations in social capital theory and ecological theory, was the primary construct investigated. For this study, recovery capital was conceptualized as affiliation with twelve step groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), social support, spirituality, and respondents' financial situation during their first year of recovery. It was hypothesized that greater levels of recovery capital are associated with higher levels of alcohol abstinence self-efficacy, and drug abstinence self-efficacy. Bandura originally conceptualized self-efficacy as those internal and external factors, which motivate a person to change behavior. Researchers operationalized this to measure the level of self-efficacy to abstain from drug, and/or alcohol use. The relationship between recovery and substance abuse treatment was also investigated. It was hypothesized that the level of self-efficacy to abstain from alcohol and drug use is moderated by completion of substance abuse treatment during the first year of recovery. Findings revealed that recovery capital is a statistically significant predictor of alcohol abstinence self-efficacy and drug abstinence selfefficacy. Findings did not support the hypothesis that treatment completion acts as a Correlates of Recovery from Substance Use DisordersWilliam Charles Gilbert, Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 2015moderator for recovery capital and substance abstinence self-efficacy.The answers to open-ended questions also reflected the importance of 12-step affiliation, social support, and spirituality in successful recovery. The study concluded by discussing the relevance of recovery capital construct for guiding social work practice and education.Given the salience of the recovery capital domains in positively influencing ongoing substance use recovery, the researcher proposed the inclusion of spirituality and 12-Step philosophy as integral components in social work treatment and social work education.William Charles Gilbert -University of Connecticut, 2015 Thank you, Dr. Alex Gitterman for your power of example as a social worker and scholar.Thanks mom and dad for providing me with the unconditional love that only parents as wonderful as you could provide. That love has and always will be a motivation to work hard and do well.Thanks Lindsay, Alison, and Ryan for being the best children a father could ask for even during the times when I was buried in my work with little time to talk. ...

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“…A third interrelated challenge is developing effective education and training resources for community mental health practitioners that can assist them in more effectively incorporating harm reduction principles and practices into their programs and daily interactions with community mental health service users. Preliminary studies indicate that the general contours of the harm reduction approach are for the most part viewed positively by practitioners and service users (Allman et al, 2007;Mancini, Linhorst, et al, 2008;Phillips, Rosenberg, & Sanikop, 2007). However, our preliminary research suggests that community mental health practitioners encounter unique ethical and moral practice dilemmas when practicing harm reduction with service users who have COD (Mancini, Linhorst, et al, 2008;Phillips et al, 2007).…”

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confidence: 88%

“…The first challenge is overcoming the tremendous political baggage attached to harm reduction practices by proponents and opponents alike, which has led to distortions in how harm reduction is perceived and practiced (Ball, 2007;Kleinig, 2008;Pauly, 2008). The second challenge is overcoming the distortions and ambiguities of the harm reduction approach itself to determine how best to apply it when working with persons with COD (Ball, 2007;Mancini, Linhorst, Broderick, & Bayliff, 2008). A third interrelated challenge is developing effective education and training resources for community mental health practitioners that can assist them in more effectively incorporating harm reduction principles and practices into their programs and daily interactions with community mental health service users.…”

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confidence: 98%

Harm Reduction in Community Mental Health Settings

Mancini

Linhorst

2010

Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation

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Harm reduction is a conceptual framework and set of practices that focus on the minimization of the physical, social, and legal harms substance users do to themselves and to society as a whole. Its application to community mental health settings is relatively new, and can create controversies and ethical dilemmas if not properly designed, implemented, and evaluated. Building on the harm reduction literature, the community mental health literature, and the authors' experiences with a community mental health program that uses a harm reduction approach, the authors offer five guidelines for its successful implementation. The authors conclude that when properly integrated with other recovery-based services, and when appropriately applied to the individual client's stage of change, harm reduction can effectively be used, and should be used, in community mental health settings with clients with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders.

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Challenges to Implementing the Harm Reduction Approach

Cited by 27 publications

References 42 publications

Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice

Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice

Correlates of Recovery from Substance Use Disorders

Harm Reduction in Community Mental Health Settings

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