It seems like there’s more than one way to do most things. That also includes seeking help to treat problems with alcohol and drugs.

Harm reduction is one such approach. Unlike 12-step programs and non-12-step programs that encourage people to give up alcohol and drugs entirely, harm reduction approaches aim to reduce the amount of harm alcohol and drug abusers do to themselves and others.

These approaches state that drugs and alcohol have always been part of societies and always will be. They argue that limiting them (and expecting people not to use them) is impossible, although limiting the damage is possible. This could come in the form of people reducing their drinking or drug use instead of quitting entirely.

Although harm reduction groups have different views about substance use than 12-step programs and non-12-step programs, all of these programs offer meetings and other forms of support for people looking for help for their alcohol and drug problems.

Another form of support is one growing in popularity for other issues—online support groups. These support groups can formal, scheduled sessions. The groups can also be more informal in the form of online forums, discussion groups, chat rooms, and other pages on Internet sites and social media sites.

Harm reduction approaches might work for some people. Advocates of this approach say it is for people who are not physically dependent on alcohol or drugs. This statement makes sense. If a person is physically dependent on alcohol or drugs, he or she needs physical help with this dependence. He or she might need medical help in the form of a detox from alcohol or drugs as well as medications to help wean them from those substances and treat the side effects of withdrawing from them.

These options illustrate that there are many approaches to helping people with their alcohol and drug problems. People have different problems. The solutions of the problems should be different as well.