Joana de Jesus Moura

Beyond Abstinence: Harm Reduction as a Human Rights Approach to Drug Use and Mental Health

Dominant responses to drug use are still largely shaped by abstinence-oriented models that often overlook the complex social and psychological realities of people who use drugs. Harm reduction offers an alternative paradigm that challenges these boundaries by centering human rights, dignity, and pragmatic care. Grounded in the principle of meeting people where they are, it creates pathways to support for individuals who are frequently excluded from traditional care systems. Yet within psychology, harm reduction remains relatively unknown.

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This presentation argues that harm reduction provides an important framework for psychology to better understand substance use within its broader social and structural context. Drawing on examples from harm reduction practice and research, the talk explores how psychological perspectives on coping and social context can deepen our understanding of drug use and marginalization.

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It will briefly trace the emergence of harm reduction as both a social movement and a public health approach, and consider its relevance and application in psychological practice today. Particular attention will be given to the intersection between mental health, homelessness, and substance use.

The presentation invites psychology students to reconsider dominant narratives about drug use and to embrace harm reduction as a boundary-breaking framework for research, care, and social justice,