Harm Reduction as an Essential Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Skill.

This article focuses on the role of harm reduction approaches in psychiatric mental health nursing practice to address opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions in the United States. It highlights that over 20 million individuals experience both mental health conditions and substance use disorders, with opioid use disorder linked to high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, overdose, and suicide. Harm reduction, defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a person-centered, non-stigmatizing approach emphasizing autonomy and social justice, includes practical interventions such as opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone), fentanyl test strips, syringe service programs, and supervised consumption sites. The article underscores the ethical responsibility of psychiatric mental health nurses to implement and advocate for harm reduction strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality associated with opioid use.