Harm Reduction Laying the Groundwork

The Harm Reduction Series is designed to provide caregivers and providers with information on best practices for caring for individuals who are actively using substances. The education series will teach ways to expand the treatment continuum to include engaging and keeping people safe when they are actively using substances including alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and tobacco. The series is designed for a broad range of audiences and each module will be presented with an expert from the community to provide insight regarding strategies for engagement and implementation.

This training will review the medical ethics and tenets of harm reduction and why they are important in expanding the care continuum of people who use drugs and alcohol. It will provide practical examples of how to write and create policies from a harm reduction perspective. It will include the legalities of including harm reduction practices in different healthcare settings and considerations for harm reduction for providers with licenses.

CE/CME credits pending approval.

Intended audience

The entire multidisciplinary team providing treatment for substance use disorders in an office-based setting as well as anyone in a clinical or non-clinical position that is interested in learning about harm reduction.

Objectives

• Participants will be able to list the 4 ethical principles for harm reduction as a practice and a philosophy. 
• Participants will be able to describe harm reduction as a set of practical skills to reduce harms associated with substance use. 
• Participants will be able to describe Harm Reduction as a philosophy to create equity in healthcare and promote wellness throughout populations of vulnerable people. 
• Participants will be able to integrate Harm Reduction as a philosophy into clinical practice. 
• Participants will be able to integrate harm reduction into clinical practice. 

Sponsored by

Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction, Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.