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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Health Promotion and Behaviour

Harm reduction

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCommon term

In public health & epidemiology, harm reduction means: An approach that aims to reduce the health and social harms of risky behaviours, such as drug use, without requiring people to stop the behaviour completely.

In Turkish: zarar azaltma

How it is used

Classic examples are needle and syringe programmes, opioid substitution therapy and naloxone distribution. It is now also discussed for alcohol and tobacco. People speak of harm reduction services, strategies and approaches.

Example sentences

  1. Needle exchange is a harm reduction measure that has lowered HIV infections among people who inject drugs.

  2. The city opened its first harm reduction centre last year.

Common collocations

  • harm reduction services
  • harm reduction approach
  • needle and syringe programme
  • people who use drugs
  • behaviour changeThe process of people adopting healthier habits or giving up harmful ones, and the methods used to help them, such as information, support, incentives and changes to their surroundings.
  • health promotionThe process of enabling people and communities to increase control over their health and improve it, through education, supportive environments, healthy policies and community action.
  • tobacco controlThe set of policies and programmes that aim to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, such as taxes, smoke-free laws, warning labels and support to quit.
  • vulnerable groupsGroups of people who face a higher risk of poor health or have more difficulty getting care, for example because of age, poverty, disability, migration status or homelessness.

More terms: Health Promotion and Behaviour

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.