HARM REDUCTION, TREATMENT BOTH NEEDED

Thanks to the Times Colonist for the informative articles on
addictions.

From the evidence base, both abstinence-based treatment and harm
reduction have important and necessary roles to play in the continuum
of managing and treating addictions. Neither alone are sufficient.

My main concern over the "abstinence as the only option" model is that
it offers nothing to persons who are not as yet engaged in treatment,
are awaiting treatment or who may have relapsed from treatment.

From both compassionate and costbenefit perspectives, society has much
to gain from seeking to minimize the individual and societal harms
that result from problematic or dependent use of psychoactive
substances in these individuals.

And as the science is clear that harmreduction initiatives neither
foster nor prolong such use and can increase treatment uptake, I see
no logical reason why they should be opposed.

Dr. Perry Kendall, Provincial health officer, Victoria