Module 2: Operational Issues This modules covers: Staying Focused Policies and Procedures Supplies Disposal Overdose Prevention Data Collection, Monitoring and Evaluation Whether the SAP operates on its own or is coupled with additional program services, it is essential to keep the syringe access component “low threshold” to ensure that participation is maximized. Low threshold means
... Module 2: Operational Issues
Module 1: Planning and Design This module covers: Needs Assessment Service Delivery Models Legal Issues Choosing a Site or Sites Hours of Operation Funding Issues NEEDS ASSESSMENT In the earliest days of syringe access, many projects were initiated with minimal planning and with very little infrastructure. Activists and drug users were simply responding to an
... Module 1: Planning and Design
Introduction Disclaimer: This manual was originally published around 2012 by a team of harm reductionists working together to produce critical information that has supported the beginning of new programs across the country. Since that time, we have made minor edits to the document to update with new information (know better, do better). This is a
... Getting Off Right
Module 6: Frequently Asked Questions This section adapted from the work of Maya Doe-Simkins, Alex Walley and colleagues for their “Notes from the Field (temporary title)” Overdose Prevention Manual. This is a list of questions and responses that overdose education and naloxone distribution trainers have gathered. Naloxone is that stuff that you stick through the
... Module 6: Frequently Asked Questions
Module 5: Overdose Prevention and Response Risks and Prevention Strategies The following section highlights common overdose risks and provides prevention tips. We understood that every prevention message might not be applicable or pragmatic in every situation; we hope these tips can provide direction and messages can be shared and adapted as needed. Risk Factor:
... Module 5: Overdose Prevention and Response
Module 4: Program Implementation and Management Funding Existing programs have found creative ways of funding overdose prevention efforts for many years. In some cases, state, county or city public health departments have found ways to designate money towards overdose prevention activities. As mentioned in The DOPE Project case study, the City and County of San
... Module 4: Program Implementation and Management
Module 3: Take-Home Naloxone Program Development Today, there are more than 300 programs doing community-based naloxone distribution. Most of these programs are run out of syringe access or other harm reduction programs, but take-home naloxone programs are expanding to physician’s offices, drug treatment programs and hospital emergency rooms. Harm reduction programs were a logical first
... Module 3: Take-Home Naloxone Program Development
What is Overamping? Overamping is the term we use to describe what one might consider an “overdose” on speed or cocaine. Overamping means a lot of things to a lot of people. Sometimes it is physical, when our bodies don’t feel right. Other times it is psychological, like paranoia, anxiety or psychosis—or a mixture of
... What is Overamping?
Listen to The Gold Standard National Harm Reduction Coalition’s Medical Director Dr. Kim Sue joins various guests from programs across the country to highlight the importance of low-barrier access to medications for opioid use. https://anchor.fm/goldstandard Episode 1: Loretta Dr. Sue is joined by her patient Loretta S. for the first podcast in this series. They
... Gold Standard Podcast with Dr. Sue
Stigma is a social process linked to power and control, which leads to creating stereotypes and assigning labels to those that are considered to deviate from the norm or to behave “badly.” Stigma creates the social conditions that make people who use drugs believe they are not deserving of being treated with dignity and respect,
... Respect to Connect: Undoing Stigma
Types of Trauma What is Vicarious Trauma? Vicarious trauma is the emotional residue of exposure that counselors and providers have from working with people as they are hearing their trauma stories and become witnesses to pain, fear, and terror that trauma survivors have endured. Provider Reactions to Vicarious Trauma BEHAVIOR Frequent job tardiness Anger
... Harm Reduction and Place: The Social & Physical Environment
Safer Consumption Tips: Smoking: Using a pipe, stem or bong. Make sure everyone has their own pipe or mouthpiece. If you are smoking crack, use a filter. Snorting: Crush powder as fine as possible and make sure everyone has their own straw. Alternate nostrils between hits. Swallowing: Pills, crushed in thin paper, or a drink.
... Safe(r) Drug Use 101
Moving Towards Healing Places This trauma-informed, harm reduction curricula can improve the efficacy of providers to engage people who are both experiencing homelessness and using drugs. Principles of Harm Reduction What is Harm Reduction? Incorporating a spectrum of strategies including safer techniques, managed use, and abstinence to promote the dignity and wellbeing of people who
... Homelessness and Harm Reduction
Why Use Motivational Interviewing? Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centered counseling style. It is done with the goal of drawing out and strengthening motivation for behavior change. This style of interviewing can create space to explore and resolve mixed feelings about change. Proven to be an effective method Assists clients in making informed decisions about
... Motivational Interviewing 101
What is Harm Reduction? Harm Reduction is: Incorporating a spectrum of strategies including safer techniques, managed use, and abstinence to promote the dignity and wellbeing of people who use drugs A framework for understanding structural inequalities like poverty, racism, homophobia, classism, etc. Meeting people “where they are,” but not leaving them there We Use People
... Foundations of Harm Reduction
Lighthouse Learning Collective Creating Safer Spaces with LGB/TGNC+ People in New York In collaboration with LGB/TGNC+ community and harm reduction providers The Lighthouse Learning Collective offers space for strategy, support, and resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming people (LGB/TGNC+) who use drugs. Bringing together harm reduction groups and organizations that serve the LGB/TGNC+
... Lighthouse Learning Collective
The Blueprint Project Supporting Black & Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men In partnership with the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) and The Counter Narrative Project Crystal methamphetamine use among Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men is a growing phenomenon with few resources devoted to addressing it. Evidence-based harm reduction strategies
... Blueprint
News & Media Info Send all media requests to communications@harmreduction.org What Is National Harm Reduction Coalition? National Harm Reduction Coalition is a national advocacy and capacity-building organization that promotes the wellbeing and dignity of people and communities affected by drug use. Our efforts advance harm reduction policies, practices, and programs that address the adverse effects
... Media
Harm Reduction Issues Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) There are many reasons that someone may be using opioids. More than 2 million people in the U.S. have an opioid use disorder (OUD) related to prescription opioids. Another quarter of a million people have an OUD related to heroin. For people who want to reduce
... Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Harm Reduction Issues Fentanyl Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is about 50 times as potent as heroin. People use fentanyl because it is cheap to manufacture and a small amount goes a long way. Many individuals consume fentanyl without knowledge while others use it intentionally because of its potency. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have
... Fentanyl
Harm Reduction Issues Sex Work Sex work is an issue central to the Harm Reduction movement. The National Harm Reduction Coalition is committed to creating real space and resources for sex workers and highlighting the important intersection in our work. We’re the first to say that we haven’t been doing enough to support the sex
... Sex Work
Harm ReductionWork in Action Credit: Nigel Brunsdon The best way to understand the effectiveness of harm reduction strategies and solutions is to look at the results of active harm reduction programs. National Harm Reduction Coalition puts strategies and ideas into action in the real world to create measurable and dramatic change. See how we’re transforming
... Work In Action
Tips for Providers on Offering Hepatitis Health Care Services National Harm Reduction Coalition advocates for the following standards of care and practice with regard to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and people who use drugs: All HCV screening must be accompanied by pre-and post-test education and support. At-risk individuals who present possible symptoms of HCV infection
... Standards of Care for HCV – Tips for Providers
There are many reasons that someone may be using opioids. More than 2 million people in the US have an opioid use disorder (OUD) related to prescription opioids. Another quarter of a million people have an OUD related to heroin. For people who want to reduce or stop using opioids, evidence-based approaches are available to
... Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (Moud) Overview
Fentanyl Overview This fact sheet was produced by The DOPE Project. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl is a more condensed, more potent opioid, which means that consuming the same amount of heroin and fentanyl may have different impacts on the body based on an individual's tolerance.
... Fentanyl Use and Overdose Prevention Tips
Sex Work The National Harm Reduction Coalition defines sex work as the provision of sexual services by one person (the “sex worker”) for which another person (“client” or “observer”) trades money or any other markers of economic value. While there are all sorts of reasons why people may engage in sex work, we believe that
... Sex Work Overview
COVID-19, an illness caused by a newly identified type of coronavirus, can cause a respiratory infection and lead to health problems. It’s usually mild and most people recover quickly if they have it, but it can be very serious for people with stressed immune systems or underlying conditions or older adults, so it’s important to
... COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs
Harm Reduction Coalition Announces Rebrand with Creative Agency Joybyte For more than 25 years, Harm Reduction Coalition has promoted the health and dignity of people who use drugs and redistributing resources and power to people impacted by structural violence. Harm Reduction Coalition’s work is groundbreaking and after 25 years, it’s time for a new
... Celebrating 25 Years of Movement Building
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. People across the globe have organized community events to fight, to build and to grieve for those who are no longer with us. Harm Reduction Coalition fights, builds and grieves with them. We have all lost too many parents, children, siblings, friends and neighbors. Overdose is the leading
... Ending the Overdose Crisis Will Take All of Us
Greetings Beloved Harm Reduction Community: Today marks the 19th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event held on August 31st each year that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related death. Harm Reduction Coalition is proud to be part of a community that acknowledges the grief felt
... International Overdose Awareness Day 2018
We interviewed a number of influential harm reduction and drug policy reform advocates from across the country. These are the people who are working against incredible odds, are largely unrecognized and serve as inspiration to the wider harm reduction community. Our aim is to amplify hope by telling their stories, uplift the people and programs
... Amplifying Hope: Unsung Champions of Harm Reduction
Dear Harm Reduction Family, The people of Puerto Rico need our support and solidarity…and we’ve owed that support and solidarity for decades. The devastation caused by Hurricane Maria is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. People are struggling to get basic needs met—the entire island is without power, the water supply is at risk
... Support and Solidarity for Puerto Rico
photo by: thierry ehrmann February was Black History Month. While some, myself included, believe that Black History Month is essentially a concession made by a government seeking to pacify the masses while maintaining the status quo, it is hard to know how to move forward if we don’t reflect on our past. Our movement
... Looking to the Past for the Future of Harm Reduction: The Black Panthers
On September 7th, 2016 activists are holding a day of actions in reaction to Mumia Abu-Jamal being denied life saving treatment for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). At 11am they are holding a press conference outside the Philadelphia Health Center at S. Broad & Lombard, at 1pm they are rallying outside Governor Wolf’s office at
... Day of Rage for Mumia: Hep C Treatment in Prison is a Human Right
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increased 66% Citywide in the Past Year with a 51% Increase in Overdose Deaths Among Latinos New York, NY – On International Overdose Awareness Day, Harm Reduction Coalition and the Peer Network of New York call attention to the need for great overdose prevention efforts in communities of color. NYC Department
... International Overdose Awareness Day 2016
Today thousands of people across the country and around the world commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day. For too many of us, this is a day of grieving for those we have lost. But it is also a day of hope, in recognition of the tens of thousands of lives that have been saved from overdose,
... International Overdose Awareness Day 2015
If you told Dave Purchase he was a pioneer, he would probably lean forward and say “speak up partner, can’t hear you, I’ve got a pie in my ear.” If you insisted, he would probably add that we’re all pioneers, to not doubt that we are correct in what we do — that we do god’s
... The Point is the Point: Remembering Dave Purchase
