Breaking Down the Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment Divide
Breaking Down the Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment Divide
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Dates and Times
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-In-Person
Location
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Southern Hemisphere IIIWalt Disney World Dolphin Resort
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
The persistent divide between harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment approaches remains a significant barrier to providing comprehensive care for individuals with substance use disorders. This presentation, featuring Liz Evans and John Hamilton, aims to bridge this divide by discussing innovative models and examples that effectively engage hard-to-reach populations. The session will emphasize both practical interventions and the cultural shifts needed within treatment teams to foster an emotionally safe environment for clients and staff, ensuring inclusive and effective care.
Innovative Models and Examples
Managed Alcohol Programs (MAPs):
- • Description: MAPs provide controlled doses of alcohol to individuals with severe alcohol use disorders, aiming to reduce harm and improve quality of life.
- • Example: The Oaks in Ottawa is a successful example of a MAP that has significantly reduced emergency room visits and improved participants’ overall health. Liberation Programs is set to pilot a MAP, further advancing this innovative model.
- • Discussion: This model demonstrates a compassionate approach to meet individuals where they are, reducing the immediate harms associated with uncontrolled alcohol use.
- Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD):
- • Description: MOUD involves the use of medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to treat opioid use disorder.
- • Example: Liberation Programs’ mobile outreach services link high-risk populations to MOUD, showcasing its efficacy in reducing overdose deaths and stabilizing lives.
- • Discussion: MOUD exemplifies a medicalized approach to harm reduction that can be seamlessly integrated into traditional treatment frameworks, offering a lifeline to those struggling with opioid dependence.
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Highlight innovative harm reduction models: Discuss managed alcohol programs (MAPs), Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), and overdose prevention centers as effective strategies for engaging hard-to-reach populations.
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Promote integrated care approaches: Explore how harm reduction and traditional addiction treatment can be synergized to offer a continuum of care that respects and supports various recovery paths.
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Foster cultural competency and emotional safety: Identify cultural changes needed within treatment teams to create emotionally safe environments that do not alienate abstinent clients while embracing harm reduction principles.
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Address the role of trauma, rights, and social justice: Understand how addressing trauma, advocating for human rights, and incorporating social justice principles are integral to effective addiction treatment.