Harm Reduction Reduces Overdose

What Is an Overdose?

An overdose can occur after someone consumes a toxic level of a substance (or multiple substances) and the effects of this interfere with their brain and body’s ability to function properly.1 Drug overdose can be fatal; however, when it isn’t, overdose-related toxicity can result in several negative short-term and long-term health consequences.1

Overdose symptoms can vary and sometimes it is hard to differentiate between relatively less severe side effects of a drug and the symptoms of a life-threatening overdose. A wide range of drugs can cause overdose, including:2

Alcohol.
Opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, Xylazine, and prescription painkillers.
Benzodiazepines.
Stimulants, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and many others.

Potential signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include:4,5

Loss of consciousness.
Markedly constricted or pinpoint pupils.
Breathing difficulties (slowed, labored, and/or irregular breathing).
Respiratory arrest (completely stopped breathing).
Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds.
Blue or purple lips or fingertips.
Being unresponsive to loud noises, shaking, or painful stimuli.

How can harm reduction work to reduce drug overdose?

Case Studies: Harm Reduction – Full Report

Harm reduction is a public health approach that focuses on mitigating the harmful consequences of drug use, including transmission of infectious disease and prevention of overdose, through provision of care that is intended to be free of stigma and centered on the needs of people who use drugs.1 Harm reduction programs are often managed by community or peer-led organizations, or health departments. Harm reduction activities can include provision of sterile syringes, naloxone distribution, fentanyl testing, overdose prevention and education, including safer drug use education, and other activities that can lessen the risk of adverse outcomes associated with using drugs. For example, syringe services programs (SSPs) can reduce the occurrence of HIV and hepatitis C.2 These programs improve public safety through safe needle provision and disposal and are not associated with an increase in crime.34 SSPs educate clients and community members about safer drug use, which may include information about how to recognize and reverse an opioid-involved overdose using naloxone.5 Harm reduction programs also offer critical linkages to treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) and other resources for populations with less access to care.1CDC’s Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Opioid Overdose resource includes linkage to care and harm reduction strategies such as SSPs and targeted naloxone distribution, and harm reduction is a priority area for the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy.