Is harm reduction the answer to Canada's drug addiction problem? Drug and substance abuse is a problem that has continued to affect billions of people, families and communities around the world since time immemorial. Aside from the health risks to individuals, drug abuse has disastrous socioeconomic effects as it places enormous financial and social burdens on society. Many families are destroyed, economies ruined while communities are persecuted. Drug abuse also jeopardizes the safety of society as a whole and places undue pressure on the education system, law and social service system, and Canada is no exception to this problem. According to the Canadian Center on Drug Abuse, the Canadian government spends up to $14 million on rehabilitation and treatment programs each year (2). The cost of the problem in Canada is estimated to be approximately $1,267 per capita in terms of healthcare, law enforcement and lost productivity, not including personal costs. This paper will address the harm reduction approach to addressing the drug addiction problem in Canada. Drug Abuse and AddictionAccording to Drug and Substance Abuse Canada, drug abuse is common among youth and young adults and even more so among Aboriginal people and prostitutes. , the homeless (Single et al. 6). Addiction can be defined as the chronic use of drugs along with problems resulting from their use. Even though the person is aware of the consequences of using the drug, he continues to use it. If left unaddressed, addiction can cause serious social problems and even death (Hanson et al. 36). To address drug addiction, it is crucial to understand the addiction itself and where it comes from. Drug use and abuse are... the focus of the article......ian Center on Substance Abuse, 2009. Print.Hallam, Christopher. "Information document on heroin-assisted treatment: the state of play." Idpc.net. Idcp.net and Web. July 4, 2010. Hanson, Glen R., et al. Drugs and society. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011. Print.Kelly, Partick. “Drinks are provided by us at the homeless shelter – served every 90 minutes – managed alcohol program reduces alcohol consumption.” National Post 7 2006. January 1, 2006: Print.Lintzeris, Nicholas. “Heroin Prescription for the Management of Heroin Addiction: Current Status.” Central Nervous System Drugs 23.6 (2009): 463–76. Print.Marlatt, Alan G. Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2002. Print.Single Eric et al. The costs of substance abuse in Canada: A cost estimating study. : Ottawa, ON: Canadian Center on Substance Abuse, 1996. Print.