Risk Reduction : Promoting Safe Practices in Outaouais

Risk reduction is a philosophy that aims to reduce the risks associated with a behavior or practice. The BRAS Outaouais team helps people to adopt safer behaviours with regard to their sexual behaviour and the use of psychoactive substances (PAS). Harm reduction is pragmatic and humanistic. It is a set of systemic practices designed to meet the needs of the people concerned, and with the people concerned.

Risk reduction is a diversified set of practices whose primary objective is to meet the needs of the first people affected. This philosophy applies just as much to sexual behavior as it does to the use of PAS.

Risk Reduction Practices

Here are a few examples of risk reduction practices :

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Distribution of external and internal condoms, dental dams and lubricants.

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Distribution of syringes, pipes and sterile consumption kits. Recovery of contaminated syringes.

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Values

The main values of the harm reduction approach are humanism, i.e. putting the individual, his or her development and capacities first. It is also a pragmatic approach, which must work and be anchored in our practices.

At BRAS Outaouais, our interventions, projects and programs are all based on a harm reduction approach. Through the prevention of STBBIs, HIV/HCV, whether in sexual behavior or consumption. We work with people, for people, with an open-minded, non-judgmental approach that puts the needs of others first.

Risk Reduction

Risk Reduction Practices

Inform people about the risks of STBBIs and HIV/HCV

Distribution of sexual health materials

Encouraging positive sexuality

Informing individuals about the drugs they use

Distribution of sterile consumables

Drug verification services

Consumer support site

Prevention of overdose and administration of naloxone in the event of overdose

Community mobilization to change public policy

Values