Harm Reduction vs Abstinence-Based Treatment: What's a Therapist to Do?

In this course, licensed addiction counsellor and licensed clinical social worker Dr. Malcolm Horn introduces you to the evolving relationship between harm reduction and abstinence-based addiction treatment. Drawing from frontline clinical leadership and systems-level experience, Dr. Horn explores addiction as a chronic biopsychosocial condition shaped by genetics, environment, trauma, and recovery capital. The course examines motivational interviewing, medication-assisted treatment, stigma, resistance, group treatment dynamics, and practical decision-making when clients continue to use substances during treatment. You will gain realistic, ethically grounded strategies for improving engagement, reducing shame, and supporting sustainable recovery outcomes across diverse treatment settings.