Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors

From our regular book review column.

The development of more effective strategies to prevent and minimize problems associated with potentially dangerous behaviors (such as substance abuse and unsafe sex) is of great importance to both at-risk individuals and society in general. Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors is a new book that promotes a controversial movement toward various approaches to "harm reduction" of dangerous behaviors, a movement based on nonjudgmental assistance and education of alcohol and illicit drug users. The text includes 20 contributors, with 16 from the University of Washington in Seattle.