This diagram depicts the core tenets of harm reduction. Source: Tatarsky

Harm reduction methods like Overdose Prevention Sites can reduce “publicly discarded syringes, overdose, and infectious disease as well as increase access to drug treatment” (Roth et al.). Thus, harm reduction methods would benefit not only those suffering from addiction, but the communities in which they reside as well.

There are different levels of stigma and different cohorts associated with different drugs. Netherland and Hansen further illustrate this double standard when they state that in a study of suburban meth users “many had been introduced to meth as a means of enhancing their performance and productivity at work and ‘maintaining a suburban lifestyle.'” In contrast to meth, they point out that “Adderall, a stimulant very similar to methamphetamine is routinely used by students to perform better on tests with little stigma attached to it use” (Netherland & Hansen).

This statement relates to the larger conversation surrounding when society deems a problem as noteworthy. There’s a prevailing assumption that “drug use is to be expected in poor, ethnic minority urban communities, but not in suburban and rural white America” (Netherland and Hansen). Since white communities “are the unmarked norm,” white drug use is often framed as a tragedy due to “wasted potential” (Netherland and Hansen).These media-reinforced expectations and assumptions desensitize people to the suffering of ethnic minorities and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

Photograph by Heather Kafifa (https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-drug-diversion-decriminalization-criminal-justice-reform-20191203.html)

This sentiment can be seen in the potential backlash against the district attorney Larry Kasner. Kasner has been withdrawing charges against those facing charges of drug possession if they show they are in treatment. \According to Leo Beletsky, a professor of law and health services at Northwestern, “They are trying to figure out ways they can expand these kinds of programs while also minimizing the public-relations damage.” The need to balance public approval with offering help to those suffering from addiction demonstrates how stigma around drug use can prevent proper treatment for addicted individuals. Read more here  (Melamed)

A Study on the acceptability of an overdose prevention site (OPS) found that “90 % of residents were in favor of an OPS opening in Kensington”; however, “support was significantly higher among unstably housed individuals and persons who currently use opioids. In the business sample, 63% of owners/staff were in favor of opening an OPS in Kensington” (Roth et al.). This difference in approval ratings demonstrates how those on the ground, those who are intimately familiar with the pain and loss of untreated addiction, are also keenly aware of how harm reduction can help.

A Non-profit called Safehouse is working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia to open the nation’s first supervised injection site (Feldman).
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For example Pre-Arrest Diversion refers to city programs where individuals are referred to treatment services rather than being convicted for drug-related offenses (Hartford et al.).