Harm Reduction In Primary Healthcare:
An Integrative Review Of Literature
Keywords:
Chemical dependency; Harm reduction; Health policies; Substance use.Abstract
Substance abuse remains a public health challenge in Brazil and worldwide, affecting a significant portion of society and demanding new care strategies. Harm reduction has gained prominence for proposing interventions that seek to minimize risks and expand access to care without requiring immediate abstinence. Objective: To identify and analyze, in the national and international literature, the main harm reduction strategies used in the care of people who use chemical substances. Methodology: An integrative review was conducted using articles published in databases such as CAPES, BVS, and PubMed, considering publications from the last 10 years in Portuguese and English. Results: The search yielded 132 studies, and after selection, 23 articles were included. Conclusions: Harm reduction is an effective approach to expand access to care, reduce risks, and strengthen the autonomy of people who use drugs. However, challenges remain, such as resistance from professionals, lack of infrastructure, and setbacks in public policies that hinder the implementation of the approach.
