Harm Reduction vs Recovery

There has been much debate lately around the pros and con of harm reduction vs recovery  especially in light of the Durban mayors decision to suspend the needle exchange program. I find little understanding and dismissive attitudes on both sides,and little attempt at understanding and explaining the underlying philosophies.
As someone who lives by ,and has a deep gratitude for the 12 step recovery program and is also involved in harm reduction initiatives, I do not find the two approaches incompatible. I feel there is much common ground,in fact there is far more that connects us than divides us. We share a passion for healing: of the most vulnerable and despised members of our society, as well as the ills of the society that drive addiction. We should be working together to be more effective rather than fighting one another.
"Harm reduction is about meeting people where they are at, without judgement, and helping them find and achieve their drug use aims (including abstinence) in the way that causes the least harm to them, irrespective of the current legal and policy framework. This is the spirit of needle and syringe programs delivered by peers illegally out of backpacks, or of the testing of drugs at festivals under threat of arrest." Shaun Shelly. Full article @medium.com/@s

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