Harm reduction is an essential component of the CA Bridge model.
Harm reduction is a set of strategies, practices, and tools developed by and for people who use drugs to reduce the risks associated with drug use.
Harm reduction principles have long been used in healthcare to manage the risks associated with many medical conditions, including alcohol use, diabetes, and eating disorders. Counseling and tools are provided to help people make healthier choices, even if they are still engaging in behaviors that carry risks. For patients with substance use disorder, harm reduction reduces the risk of infectious disease transmission, skin and soft tissue infections, and overdose. In the CA Bridge model, the harm reduction approach establishes the Emergency Department as a welcoming, non-stigmatizing healthcare setting where people who use drugs can receive resources that improve their quality of life and reduce their risk of disease and death.
We can help make harm reduction a part of your hospital’s practice.
Get naloxone
Naloxone is an exceptional form of harm reduction, recognized for its extraordinary safety profile and life-saving impact. Emergency Departments are a premier place to offer free, take-home naloxone for patients and community members. To get a program started, review our Guide to Naloxone Distribution.
Access our resources
Incorporating harm reduction into the Emergency Department setting is not a one-size-fits-all process. Some of these strategies may be easily implemented in your Emergency Department, allowing for fast uptake; others may be challenging.
Review our Guide to Harm Reduction in the Emergency Department to learn more about your options.
See our toolkit, Harm Reduction Strategies for the Hospital Setting to learn how you can bring harm reduction to your hospital.
You can also ensure that patients can access Safer Consumption Supplies, learn how to Prevent Overdose With Fentanyl Test Strips and reduce risk with guidelines like the Stimulant Safety Guide.
Get training on-demand
Check out these recorded webinars we created with our partners at the National Harm Reduction Coalition.
New Trends in Harm Reduction: An update on the most recent trends in drug use and harm reduction practices happening at California syringe service programs.
A Perfect Match: Harm Reduction and Emergency Department Nursing: An exploration into how nurses can incorporate harm reduction into their care practice.