Expanding Harm Reduction to Treat Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa

This paper advocates for expanding harm reduction (HR) concepts to treat Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN). It argues that HR, traditionally applied in drug use contexts, can be adapted for SE-AN. Drawing on Stoljar’s work (2020), It shows that a deontological foundation for HR can promote dignity and autonomy in SE-AN treatment by providing a safe space and allowing individuals to choose their treatment. To understand HR’s application to SE-AN, it examines analogies and potential disanalogies with drug use. Finally, it suggests that using HR in SE-AN justifies treatments based on dignity and autonomy which are essential for ethical care.