Progress Over Perfection: redefining Success

Traditional substance use treatment models have historically prioritized abstinence as the solitary goal. However, research and listening to the voices of those with lived experiences have deepened our understanding of the complex relationship individuals have with substance use beginning with their initial exposure to various intervention opportunities. Harm reduction acknowledges this complexity, offering strategies to minimize the risk of mortality and other negative consequences associated with substance use. More than just a set of interventions, harm reduction is a comprehensive approach and philosophy that values the voices of individuals with lived or living experience. It seeks to improve accessibility to treatment and resources while addressing the stigma surrounding substance use—both in society and within treatment policies and procedures. Rather than an all-or-nothing mindset, harm reduction promotes progress over perfection, empowering people to take steps that work for them while maintaining dignity, respect, and autonomy. This workshop introduces participants to the harm reduction mindset and how it bridges the treatment gap between full recovery and the process within its core principles and identify some pragmatic ways to integrate harm reduction into their respective settings.Learning Objectives: 1. Define Harm Reduction and describe the seven core principles of harm reduction and explore how these can be applied into current service provision. 2. Identify examples of current harm reduction interventions. 3. Explore the impact of stigma on an individual’s positive health outcomes and how a judgment-free approach fosters trust.ModeratorDr. Patricia Stoddard Dare, PhD, MSWProfessor, School of Social Work; Women's & Gender Studies, Cleveland State University