Environmental scan on the current state of harm reduction education in nursing

This environmental scan examines the current state of harm reduction (HR) education in Canadian nursing programs, highlighting significant gaps in preparing nurses to work effectively with people who use drugs (PWUD). While nursing codes of ethics and professional standards explicitly align with HR principles, our findings reveal that HR education remains inconsistently integrated into nursing curricula across Canada.

If covered at all, HR education is often embedded within other courses rather than recognized as a core component. This results in uneven exposure to HR content among students, leaving many nursing graduates unprepared to implement HR approaches in their practice. The inclusion of HR education is also heavily dependent on individual faculty interest and initiative. Stigma toward substance use and a lack of faculty readiness to teach this content remain major barriers.

Curriculum constraints further limit the depth of HR education. With an already overcrowded curriculum and minimal emphasis on HR in entry-to-practice guidelines and licensing exams, instruction on HR is often superficial. The lack of this education has a direct impact on patient care, perpetuating stigma, and discrimination in healthcare settings.