In February, the New York Times became the launching pad for a $500,000 Bloomberg-funded ad campaign lauding the virtues of using harm reduction strategies to fight the opioid crisis. The campaign features ads on CNN, Hulu, YouTube and others.
While there’s no clear-cut definition, harm reduction as a public health strategy often consists of encouraging safer alternatives to risky behaviors rather than insisting on abstinence or quitting “cold turkey.”
Harm reduction strategies can include needle exchange programs, condom distribution and safe injection sites. Strategies can also include distributing safer smoking kits, which can include crackpipes.
The group behind the campaign is Vital Strategies, which describes itself as “the lead technical and implementation partner funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.” Bloomberg Philanthropies is one of the most powerful players in the charitable space, wielding influence from city governments to the World Health Organization.
“At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we believe in promoting evidence-based interventions to ensure longer, better lives for the greatest number of people — harm reduction does just that,” says Dr. Kelly Henning, who leads the groups’ public health program.
But there’s a stunning disconnect regarding Mike Bloomberg’s support for harm reduction to fight the opioid epidemic and his approach to smoking cessation. He and his organizations completely reject the logic of harm reduction when it comes to tobacco.
Guy Bentley – NY Daily News – 2022-03-01.