Prevention · Education · Support · Referrals

Serving the mountain communities of Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis
Lake Louise, Exshaw and Morley

Free
condoms
are
available
at the
following
locations:

AIDS Bow
Valley

The
Living
Room

The
Banff
YWCA

The Banff
Centre

Lube and
dental dams
are also
available at the
AIDS Bow Valley
office
302 Buffalo St.

"Harm reduction can be defined as a set of practical strategies with the goal of meeting people 'where they are at' to help them to reduce harm associated with engaging in risk taking behavior"

(Harm Reduction Coalition, United States, 2000)
(Definition supported by Canadian AIDS Society, 2000)

 

Basic Principles of Harm Reduction:

Harm reduction philosophy considers risk taking behavior as a natural part of our world and suggests that our work should be focused on minimizing the harmful effects of these behaviors rather than focusing on the cessation of the behavior.

Harm reduction philosophy requires the involvement of those individuals who are the intended recipients of programs and services in the creation of these same services and programs and/or the delivery of programs and services that are designed to serve them. These programs and services must be offered in a non-judgmental and non-coercive manner.

Harm reduction philosophy recognizes that poverty, social class, racism, homophobia, social isolation, past trauma, and other social inequities have an impact on both people's vulnerability to, and capacity for, effectively dealing with risk taking behavior.

**Information on this page provided by the Canadian AIDS Society.