Harm Reduction in Inpatient Hospital Settings: An Ethics (Principlist) Analysis

The opioid epidemic continues to be a prevalent crisis in North America. How best to address this challenge has long been debated. Abstinence is currently the preferred policy within the inpatient hospital setting, however, this is fraught with difficulties such as withdrawal and using substances in secrecy. It can also result in stigma and a lack of knowledge on substance use among health care providers. The concept of harm reduction could provide an ethical approach to supporting people with substance use disorder. Through Principlism and the principles of Autonomy, Beneficence, Justice and Non-Maleficence, this paper suggests that harm reduction practices represent a viable and more ethically sound approach to health care compared to abstinence-based approaches. Harm reduction practices could result in a more equitable health care system that reduces stigma and increases help-seeking behaviour. More empirical research in other jurisdictions or other settings such as long-term care is needed. Future research should address additional theoretical frameworks such as dialogical bioethics, care ethics and the capabilities approach.