Harm reduction is increasingly becoming the preferred approach when working with substance users as we recognize that abstinence is only one possible goal on a larger, more realistic continuum. However, while many of us know “our politics” around harm reduction, it can be useful to collectively reflect on how we define problem substance use (“addiction”) and build a framework to understand the context of drug and alcohol use in our communities.

Guest on the line: Rahim Thawer is a social worker and mental health clinician based in Canada