Stays in medical respite offer an excellent opportunity for clients to consider engaging in substance use treatment or modifying their use. The stability of medical respite programs – providing medical supports and consistent access to lodging, food, and medications – can actively facilitate clients’ desired behavior changes and substance use goals, even if their goal is not complete abstinence.
Harm reduction approaches and practices have been shown to reduce overdose risk and result in improved recovery outcomes when compared to abstinence-only based interventions. Because clients may fall along a continuum of recovery – ranging from active use, to recent recovery, to long-term abstinence and to relapse, it is important for all programs to be aware of these proven interventions, regardless of their specific policies on substance use.
