What are the implications of harm reduction ideologies for the future of substance use disorder treatment?A review of the literatureA review of the literature reveals no clear definition of harm reduction. Most experts agree, however, that harm reduction strategies primarily aim to reduce the health, social and economic consequences associated with alcohol and drug use. Implicitly or explicitly, complete abstinence is the goal of the vast majority of substance abuse service providers (MacMaster, 2004). Although harm reduction strategies emphasize total abstention from addictive substances, the approach encompasses a broad range of goals that are not limited to abstinence. The harm reduction model uses strategies to expand the reach of treatment to substance abusers for whom abstinence-focused treatment may not be appropriate. When people are unwilling or unable to embrace abstinence, alternatives to abstinence-based treatments have been shown to increase the well-being of individuals and communities. This literature review examines whether practicing harm reduction strategies is a promising alternative to traditional substance abuse interventions. who employ abstinence-oriented strategies by addressing the following points:1. What is harm reduction?2. Drug and alcohol related harms.3. Harm reduction interventions.4. Criticisms of Harm ReductionTogether, traditional substance use services and harm reduction approaches can be integrated to provide a comprehensive sequence of care, from safer substance use to reduced use to maintenance of total abstinence.What is harm reduction?A review of the literature on the term "harm reduction" reveals that there is no universal definition. The concept...... middle from the paper ......tice in Addictions, 11(1), 96-100. doi: 10.1080/1533256X.2011.546205 MacMaster, S. (2004). Substance Abuse, 49(3), 356-63. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2055/docview/215270642/fulltext?accountid=7113Pauly, B. (2008). Harms from a Social Justice Perspective. International Journal of Drug Policy, 19(1), 4-10 doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.11.005 Rosenberg, H. and Phillips, KT (2003). ). Acceptability and availability of drug abuse harm reduction interventions in US drug treatment agencies. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 17(3), 203-210. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.17.3.203Tatarsky, A. and Marlatt, G. (2010). State of the art in harm reduction psychotherapy: an emerging treatment for substance abuse. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 117-122. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20672