A harm-reduction practitioner explains why abstinence isn't the only path to recovery. Abstinence can work for some people, but forcing it on everyone ignores what actually helps individuals choose their own goals.
is people largely think that us harm reductionists are completely against abstinence, but what most people don't realize is that abstinence is folded into harm reduction. Yes, yeah. However, the biggest difference is we do not pretend that that is the where, like, be-all end-all, that's the only option, right? I know many people, they go to NAA meetings and that's worked for them and that's great, but they also know full well that that just works for them. They're not gonna throw that out and put that on everybody else, right? Do I think that there's a place for it? Sure, if that's what someone's asking for, But what I don't appreciate is, one, pretending like that's the only option, that's the best option, and two, you know, trying to get people to fall in line when that's not something that they're asking for and making them feel bad about it, right?
