Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention Flashcards

Which best describes the philosophy of harm reduction?

Answer: Meeting people where they are and reducing negative consequences of use without requiring abstinence first

Harm reduction accepts people where they are and focuses on reducing harms such as overdose and infection. Any positive change counts, and abstinence is not a precondition.

Naloxone (Narcan) reverses an overdose caused by which type of substance?

Answer: Opioids

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. It displaces opioids from receptors and reverses respiratory depression. It is safe to give if opioids might be involved, but it does not reverse alcohol, benzodiazepines or stimulants.

Which is a key sign of an opioid overdose?

Answer: Pinpoint pupils, unresponsiveness, and slow or stopped breathing

The opioid overdose triad is pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and respiratory depression. Blue lips or fingertips and gurgling sounds may also appear.

Good Samaritan overdose laws, which exist in most U.S. states, generally:

Answer: Provide limited legal protection for people who call 911 to report an overdose

Good Samaritan laws give limited immunity, often from minor possession charges, to people who seek emergency help. This encourages bystanders to call 911. Protections vary by state.

A peer who uses opioids is not ready to stop. Which response by a recovery specialist is most consistent with harm reduction?

Answer: Provide naloxone and information on fentanyl test strips and never using alone, while continuing to offer support

Harm reduction keeps the person alive and connected by offering overdose prevention tools and continued engagement. That support can later open the door to further change.

Why has the risk of accidental overdose increased sharply in the illicit drug supply in recent years?

Answer: Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is frequently mixed into other drugs, often without the user's knowledge

Illicit fentanyl is very potent and is often mixed into heroin, counterfeit pills and stimulants. People may take a lethal dose without knowing it, which is why test strips and naloxone matter.