“Opinion: Let’s Steal an Idea From the Drug War”
The statistics regarding gun deaths in the United States are alarming: more than 40,000 people die from gun violence each year, higher than any other developed country. Despite numerous proposed solutions, there has been little progress in reducing these numbers. Some are exploring the “harm reduction” model, an approach successful with the opioid epidemic, to address gun deaths. The principle of harm reduction involves reducing negative consequences rather than eliminating the problem entirely. With gun violence, harm reduction could take the form of increasing gun regulation, but also providing support for gun owners who may have issues with mental health or substance use. This article discusses the potential for harm reduction to combat gun violence and approaches for implementation.
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