Via small openings in the tongue epithelium, called taste pores, parts of the food dissolved in saliva come into contact with the taste receptors. These are located on top of the taste receptor cells that constitute the taste buds. The taste receptor cells send information detected by clusters of various receptors and ion channels to the gustatory areas of the brain via the seventh, ninth and tenth cranial nerves. On average, the human tongue has 2,000â8,000 taste buds.
Harm reduction is a technique used to treat drug addiction that focuses on preventing harm to addicts before preventing use of drugs or alcohol.
Harm reduction policies and approaches include education, prevention and treatment based upon the following beliefs: 1  A drug-free society is not a realistic goal. 2  Practical solutions can be implemented to decrease the degree of harm drug use causes. 3  An array of interventions may be needed to reduce the harm of drug use.