The Contradictory ‘Harm Reduction’

Stenius, Kerstin

doi:10.1177/145507250702400302

Cited by 1 publication

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References 15 publications

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“…The Danish debate, on the other hand, has been more positive (Andersen and Järvinen 2007). From researchers' point of view, harm reduction has been described as humane and pragmatic and as means to improve health and reduce societal costs (Stenius 2007;Lindgren 2008;Aceijas 2012;Maremmani et al 2015). In both Sweden and Denmark a positive view has been particularly present in relation to older individuals with a long-standing history of substance use disorder and homelessness (Jönson and Harnett 2019;Thiesen 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Wet’ eldercare facilities: three strategies on the use of alcohol and illicit substances

Harnett

Jönson

2020

Nordic Social Work Research

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Wet eldercare facilities constitute a type of harm reduction arrangements where goals of abstinence are abandoned in favour of goals of increased wellbeing for older people with long-term substance use disorder. The fact that residents are acknowledged as being active in their substance use results in challenges; harmful activities are witnessed by the staff in a context that has actually been created by a social service agency. The aim of this article was to explore what professionals in wet eldercare facilities considered problematic in relation to residents' consumption of alcohol and illicit substances and what strategies they used to address these 'problems'. Particular attention was paid to approaches and strategies that addressed the challenge of being present at a facility where destructive behaviour and consumption of alcohol and illicit substances were part of everyday life. Data for the study consists of 12 interviews with managers and staff at five eldercare facilities with different sizes, organizational styles, and approaches. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify strategies that were used to handle the presence of alcohol and drugs under a 'cap of acceptance' deemed to be necessary for a wet eldercare facility. Three main strategies were identified and referred to as a) looking away, b) intervention and prohibition and c) intervention and distribution. In the final analysis, findings were brought into a typology for strategies, based on the two variables of acceptance and control, and the use of different strategies was critically discussed.

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