The harm reduction model of addiction aims to “reduce the harms associated with the addicted behaviors” (ARS, 2016). When used with individuals who have addiction the focus is on reducing most of the negative consequences, and attempts to increase recovery on all life’s levels (ARS, 2016). While others believe, abstinence is ideal for most individual’s, the harm reduction model wants people to understand that most individuals rarely achieve total abstinence overnight and due to the extreme withdrawals relapse is possible and still could happen while the individual is in treatment (ARS, 2016).
