Health and Harm Reduction: Rethinking Conventional Drug Use and Policy | Jeffrey Hom | TEDxUSciences

Jeffrey, a policy advisor for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, is an advocate and force between safe injection sites in Philadelphia, one of the first in the nation. Through his talk, Jeffrey suggests a controversial solution to the opioid crisis that’s as simple as changing attitudes. Jeffrey Hom is a policy advisor in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, where he provides guidance to the Health Commissioner on programs and policies related to the wellbeing of all Philadelphians. His present focus is on substance use, in particular issues around access to treatment and overdose prevention. He is also a board-certified internist and cares for patients at the Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.
Jeff has contributed to health care and public health efforts in San Francisco, Boston, and Shiprock, New Mexico, as well as internationally in Lesotho and Cambodia, all of which have deepened his desire to improve community well-being, pursue health equity and advance social justice. For his efforts he was selected as a Zuckerman Fellow at Harvard's Center for Public Leadership and received a 2016 Presidential Scholarship for AcademyHealth's Institute on Advocacy and Public Policy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@aaronwatter]

The biggest flaw of harm reduction (and of decriminalization generally) is that it does not account for the majority of people who use drugs, including opioids. Most of these people neither use every day, nor inject. The safe injection site does not capture this group. Harm reduction & decriminalization are positive but ultimately inadequate responses. What would really help is access to a safe drug supply, i.e. legalized regulation.

[@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650]

Right, an uneducated and greed fueled minority should be in control of what people are taking, wouldn’t want the populace thinking too hard about anything!

[@grawakendream8980]

this is insightful

[@rener.3822]

I mean technically legalized regulation would be a systems approach to harm reduction.

[@bboppppppppppppp]

thank you for this

[@andrzejcelinski1]

Thank you for the lifeguard example. Seatbelts, helmets, condoms and clean syringes are all harm reduction. Its just common sense. Thank you kindly. Once people get past all the hateful messaging and imagery that has been perpetuated about people who use drugs, a harm reduction aporoach becomes blatantly obvious, necessary and imperative. Thank you for your contributions to this discussion and field of work.

[@Shellpooh7]

Thank you Jesus someone talking about it

[@2005rosebud]

How about a safe supply system like in Vancouver B.C.?
Fewer access to opiates send too many to fentanyl.
Thanks for your work.

[@christytanner3896]

What about the percentage of addicts? Did it increase or decrease?

[@kristytucker1476]

we have numbers on decreased deaths, but how many of those people are in recovery?

[@atorbubble]

yeah... swiming, heavy addiction to hard drugs. same thing

[@deborahvictoriaedwards5188]

When the addicted are cash poor, harm reduction...

[@catowarmeowson9964]

*injects deadly chemicals* *dies* *stocked pokemon face*

[@michaelhmiles]

Disappointing Ted talk. I Agree with harm reduction but a lot of misinformation here. Quoting flawed CDC overdose stats? 65,000 is for ALL drugs, polypharmacy, mixing with alcohol etc. not just opioids.
Conflates dependence with addiction. Come on this is
basic stuff. Shameful.

[@alidelatierra]

I dont think you understand harm reduction in a real life way, only on paper. This comment doesn't make sense if you know people who are addicts

[@michaelhmiles]

@@alidelatierra What did I say that was incorrect? Your comment doesn't make any sense.

[@Autumnpearly]

The cdc is paid to push the narrative that the government wants out there. Nothing they say is accurate and actually proven. The goal is an abstinence the goal is to save peoples lives. You should look at the statistics of other countries that have decriminalized ALL drugs and have safe supply. All the numbers that you’re talking about go down. Abstinence-based recovery doesn’t work. True harm reduction does

[@grawakendream8980]

what are you trying to say

[@antoniochavez8907]

Education is definitely part of harm reduction philosophy. Ie: never mix benzos and alcohol