Why Harm Reduction Matters

An estimated 107,543 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023 according to data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). This is a decrease from the 111,029 overdose deaths in 2022, but any life lost is a tragedy. Public health officials, government leaders, and communities are struggling with how to respond to this prevailing issue. A variety of approaches have been employed including prevention education, stricter laws targeting drug trafficking and distribution, and increased support for recovery programs and services. These approaches are successful in preventing individuals from using substances, but they do not address preventing overdoses if someone chooses to use substances. Harm reduction is one approach that focuses on preventing negative outcomes instead of preventing substance use in general.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) describes harm reduction as being “an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.” Harm reduction strategies include making Naloxone readily available, medication-assisted treatment for addiction, and needle exchange programs.These strategies are important because they keep people alive and encourage them to make positive changes, reduce the harms of drug laws and policies, and they provide services and resources that support a multitude of needs. Unfortunately, harm reduction approaches face push back due to personal beliefs and misunderstanding. Here are a few common myths that R Street Institute identified:

• Harm reduction is only for people who use drugs.
• Harm reduction normalizes, encourages or “enables” risky behavior.
• Harm reduction prevents or opposes recovery or complete cessation, simply replacing one addiction with another.
• Harm reduction services make neighborhoods less safe.
• Harm reduction is unnecessary if we remove drugs and dealers from the equation.

These myths are harmful and overlook the goal of harm reduction programs: to save lives. Thankfully, harm reduction strategies are becoming more common which means lives are being changed. Harm Reduction International shares that 109 countries support harm reduction in their national policies. This is good because it shows that the world is looking at how we can help people make healthy decisions, and provide support if they choose not to. Learn more at the links below.

Resources

American Addiction Centers – Harm Reduction Guide
Harm Reduction International – What is Harm Reduction?
R Street Institute – Harm Reduction 101: Five Harm Reduction Myths
SAMHSA – Harm Reduction
CDC – U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease in 2023, First Time Since 2018

The Impact of Alcohol and Vaping on Education

Underage drinking and vaping are the main substance use issues schools see among students. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), alcohol is the substance used the most by youth, and youth use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product. These substances negatively impact physical and mental health, which can lead to additional issues like poor performance in school. Long-term use of these substances can harm the developing brain and directly impact the areas of the brain responsible for decision-making, memory, learning, and coordination. The brain does not fully develop until age 25 so these early harms can cause additional issues later in life. Youth substance use does not just impact the person using; it can also impact their classmates and teachers.

Classmates are impacted by changes in mood or behavior from their peers. These changes can lead to people losing a friend they care about, and create a school environment that does not feel comfortable or safe. Vaping introduces an additional concern with second-hand vapors being in bathrooms or stairwells where students like to vape. A negative school culture can result from students losing trust in administrators when policies don’t effectively address vaping on school property. Vaping devices are designed to be difficult to detect, but this does not mean students will understand why their peers can get away with vaping at school.

Teachers see additional issues as a result of students using substances like alcohol or nicotine. They notice students struggle with poor attendance, low grades, and behavioral issues that can cause disruptions in the classroom. This is difficult for teachers because they want students to succeed and have bright futures. The Truth Initiative conducted an online discussion with 28 high school teachers in 2019 to better understand how vaping impacts student behavior and academics. Here are some of the responses they got:

• Vaping was so common that teachers were not able to describe the “typical” student who vapes.
• Students were not aware of the health effects of vaping.
• Vaping affected school-wide culture and teaching styles.
• Half of the teachers felt that school vaping policies were ineffective.

This is concerning but giving teachers the knowledge and resources they need to help address the issues they see could make all the difference. This includes implementing education programs that teach students and teachers about the negative health effects of alcohol and e-cigarettes, and reviewing school policies to ensure they effectively address concerns without negatively impacting the person engaging in negative behaviors. You can help by talking to your children about the dangers of using substances. Most students are not using substances, but they are experiencing issues brought about by other students who are. These issues are not easy to solve, but positive change can happen if the school community works together.

Check out the links below for more information.

Resources

Alcohol Think Again – Impact of Alcohol
CDC – About Underage Drinking
CDC – E-Cigarette Use Among Youth
SAMHSA – What Educators Can Do to Help Prevent Underage Drinking and Other Drug Use
Truth Initiative – How the Youth Vaping Epidemic is Impacting Teachers
Verkada – How Vaping in School Affects Teachers and the Classroom

August 2024 Awareness

Resources

TIPS is a skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Attendees will learn how to detect fake identification, the ins and outs of Ohio’s sales and service laws, how to refuse a sale or service, recognizing impairment, how to deal with underage customers, and more.

The training will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6th from 1 PM to 4 PM at University of Akron-Wayne College, 1901 Smucker Rd., Orrville, OH 44667. Register for the training by emailing Robert Bean at beanr@one-eighty.org or by calling 330-804-3122. Walk-ins will be accommodated on a space available basis only.