IN THIS ISSUE...
The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) is committed to reducing drug-related harm among individuals and communities by initiating and promoting local, regional, and national harm reduction education and training, resources and publications, and community organizing. HRC fosters alternative models to conventional health and human services and drug treatment; challenges traditional client/provider relationships; and provides resources, educational materials, and support to health professionals and drug users in their communities to address drug-related harm.
The Harm Reduction Coalition believes in every individual's right to health and well-being as well as in their competency to protect and help themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.
Editorial Policy
Harm Reduction Communication provides a forum for the exchange of practical, "hands on" harm reduction techniques and information; promotes open discussion of theoretical and political issues of importance to harm reduction and the movement; and informs the community through resource listings and announcements of relevant events. Harm Reduction Communication is committed to presenting the views and opinions of drug users, drug substitution therapy consumers, former users and people in recovery, outreach and front-line workers, and others whose voices have traditionally been ignored, and to exploring harm reduction issues in the unique and complicated context of American life.
Since a large part of harm reduction is about casting a critical eye toward the thoughts, feelings, and language we have learned to have and use about drugs and drug users, Harm Reduction Communication assumes that contributors choose their words as carefully as we would. Therefore, we do not change 'addict' to 'user' and so forth unless we feel that the author truly meant to use a different word, and contributors always have last say.
The views of contributors to Harm Reduction Communication do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff or of the Harm Reduction Coalition.
Any part of this publication may be freely reproduced as long as HRC is credited.
Editor: Alan Greig
Graphic Design: Dolly Meieran
© HRC 1998

Youth--True Stories
The Underage Exchange?
by Ro Giuliano and Matty Luv

Welcome to the Rat Cage
by Alisa Fowler

High School Harm Reduction
by Aya de León

Streetwork
by Douglas Manigault

Wendys With Love
by Ruth Haynes

Regional Realities
On the Ground
by Delaney Ellison

The New American City?
by Ken Vail
User Organizing
Defining The Drug User
by Raffi Balian and Cheryl White

Division to Diversity
by Matthew Southwell

The Power of One
by Sheila O'Shea

Outlaws & Activists
by Paul Cherashore

TV Rebels with a Cause
by Joyce Mitchell, Eric Reininga, and Rachel Anderson

North American Users Union--
A History
by Jon Paul Hammond

Witches' Brew: First Aid Tips for Youth and Young Adults
by Sara Kershnar

The Greatest Threat to the Lives of Drug Users is Posed by Politicians...
by Chris Lanier

Please write in with your comments, feelings, responses--we want to hear from you. Send them to:
The Editor,
Harm Reduction Coalition,
22 West 27th Street, 9th Floor,
New York, NY 10001