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12 - Community-Based Harm Reduction Approaches for Alcohol Use Disorder

from Part II - Meso Level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2021

By
Susan E. Collins ,
Seema L. Clifasefi ,
Grover “Will” Williams  and
Lovella Black Bear
Edited by
Jalie A. Tucker  and
Katie Witkiewitz
Jalie A. Tucker
Affiliation:
University of Florida
Katie Witkiewitz
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico
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Summary

Community-based harm reduction for alcohol use disorder (AUD) entails a compassionate stance and pragmatic strategies that minimize alcohol-related harm and enhance quality of life. Community-based harm reduction approaches aim to meet people where they are both in their communities and with respect to their motivation for change. Harm reduction approaches do not require or prioritize abstinence or alcohol use reduction as the sole or most desirable recovery pathway. To date, community-based harm reduction approaches have been applied and investigated primarily within marginalized populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness and AUD. Randomized controlled trials have established efficacy for the low-barrier, non-abstinence-based Housing First approach and for community-based harm-reduction treatment. Managed alcohol programs and meaningful activities programming have shown promising findings in nonrandomized trials and warrant further study. The chapter concludes with reflections on key themes undergirding work in community-based harm reduction and how it has positively affected individuals and communities.

Keywords

harm reductioncommunity-based interventionalcohol treatmentHousing Firstalcohol use disorderhomelessnessmarginalized populations
Type
Chapter
Information
Dynamic Pathways to Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder
Meaning and Methods
 , pp. 218 - 238
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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