The term “harm reduction” refers to various strategies and approaches for reducing the physical and social harms associated with risk-taking behavior. Harm reduction is about preventing disease, death, incarceration and isolation. It is about improving and saving lives. Harm reduction is about making dangerous behaviors less dangerous.

Harm reduction seeks to prevent the harms caused by risk-taking behavior rather than attempting to eliminate that behavior altogether. Harm reduction advocates recognize that risk-taking behavior has persisted despite all efforts to prevent it–and will continue to do so.