In Brief: You don't smoke it, but it's still tobacco
In Brief
You don't smoke it, but it's still tobacco
Doctors are told to "first, do no harm." But in public health, the dictum might be changed to "first, do less harm." The goal is often to come up with alternatives to lessen the chance of harm occurring, rather than avoiding it altogether.
The designated driver campaign for drinkers is one example of a harm-reduction program: Drinking to excess is risky behavior, but having someone sober behind the wheel at least takes drunk driving out of the picture. Needle-exchange programs to prevent the spread of HIV are another example.
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