National Harm Reduction Coalition

The overdose epidemic steals lives, devastates families, and leaves communities reeling from collective loss. It doesn't have to be this way, and it shouldn't be. We cannot go backward and further abandon supportive practices and care we know work.

"Research shows that harm reduction programs do not hamper people’s recovery. One study, for example, found that people who frequently use syringe exchange programs are five times as likely to enter treatment as those who participate less. Other studies have found that people who frequently go to overdose prevention centers where they can use drugs under supervision are 40 to 70 percent more likely to get treatment than those who show up less often," this The New York Times op-ed notes.

Opinion | This Approach to Addiction Will Cost Lives The Trump administration is going after harm reduction.

Though Hepatitis Awareness Month is coming to a close, harm reduction remains crucial in the prevention and treatment of hepatitis — particularly hepatitis C. The work of harm reductionists meeting people where they're at and supporting them in their individual health needs is imperative for improving public health. Learn more about hepatitis C resources and other info here: bit.ly/HepCResources

This MedPage Today piece sums up so much in the headline alone: "Harm reduction works. 'Wellness farms' won't."

"As an emergency physician, I have treated patients after an overdose when minutes to a lifesaving medication determines survival. I have also worked in substance use clinics, where recovery is rarely immediate and requires meeting patients where they are. In medicine, we are trained to act on evidence, not ideology. When a patient is in front of us, we use the tools that work, even if they are imperfect, because the alternative is unacceptable. We don't let people die," as shared in the piece.

Opinion | Harm Reduction Works. 'Wellness Farms' Won’t. Funding restrictions remove lifesaving support for those at risk of overdose

One overdose death is one too many. While reported overdose death rates are down, data shows Appalachians are dying at a higher rate than the rest of the U.S. With imperative, life-saving services and support on the line, lives are further at risk. We must demand more for our communities and support people who use drugs as the already fragile support system is chipped away.

“The estimates are that the Medicaid cuts will total about $1 trillion, and that between $137 billion and $155 billion of that will be cuts to rural facilities...But that’s also rural substance use treatment, home health, long-term care, anything that is paid with Medicaid dollars. The rug is about to be pulled out," as noted in this NC Health News/ The Daily Yonder coverage.

Report: “Deaths of despair” decline nationwide, but still more prevalent in Appalachia According to the researchers, the reasons for the disparity are complicated, but overdose mortality remains one of the primary factors driving the difference.

Hay herramientas que pueden ayudarte a mantenerte más segure al practicar chems*x. Desde medicamentos para el tratamiento del consumo de dr*gas hasta medicamentos que puede revertir sobredosis y mejorar tu salud s*xual, tenemos todo lo que necesitas. Consulta con un proveedor de atención médica para decidir qué es lo más adecuado para ti.

Sigue a NHRC's Lighthouse Learning Collective y Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC) para seguir esta semana y encontrar consejos útiles, historias personales y dónde encontrar apoyo.

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Your health matters, and there are tools that can help you stay safer when having chems*x. From medications to help with substance use treatment to meds that can reverse overdoses and improve your s*xual health, we’ve got you covered. Talk to a provider about what’s right for you, and follow NHRC's Lighthouse Learning Collective and Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC) on Instagram for hot tips, personal stories, and places to get support!

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People who inject drugs are 14 times more likely to contract HIV as noted in this TalkingDrugs.org coverage, which names syringe sharing, barriers to sterile injecting equipment, and roadblocks to treatment and testing as hurdles to prevention.

"But the legal environment plays a key role as well. Studies have repeatedly linked criminalisation and aggressive policing to higher rates of needle sharing and lower uptake of needle-syringe programmes. In contrast, harm reduction services such as needle exchanges and opioid substitution therapy are proven to be some of the most effective interventions in HIV prevention. These programmes reduce transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne infections. But harm reduction works best when people aren’t afraid of being arrested," the piece noted.

The story continued, "Increasingly, global health agencies have been calling for a shift away from punishment. A growing body of research and advocacy from organisations like UNAIDS and the International AIDS Society points to decriminalisation of drug use and possession for personal use as a critical step in creating a supportive environment for HIV prevention and treatment."

The Decriminalisation Playbook: New UNAIDS Report Lays Out Pathway for HIV Response - TalkingDrugs The latest UNAIDS report highlights the importance of drug decriminalisation for improving HIV-related health outcomes.

Health care must be treated like the human right it is. The overdose epidemic is a public health issue, and it deserves public health approaches — including harm reduction tools like drug testing strips which are now even further out of reach for people who need these most. Rather than expanding access to life-saving resources, new restrictions are cutting holes in the safety net for people who use drugs.

Read more from The Guardian below, as well as words from Drug Policy Alliance, Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition, Dancesafe, and Grassroots Harm Reduction.

Trump’s sudden cut in substance testing is ‘going to kill people’, experts warn Samhsa said funding cannot be used to purchase or distribute fentanyl test strips or other drug test kits

La NHRC, en colaboración con sus socios, ha publicado hojas informativas en español e inglés que se centran en las experiencias de 23 PSJ al implementar servicios avanzados de análisis de dr**as. Estas hojas informativas incluyen información sobre cómo los PSJ pueden administrar estos servicios, las barreras y oportunidades que enfrentan en el proceso, consejos sobre buenas prácticas y mucho más.

Check out the latest fact sheets we worked on with our partners in Spanish and English that focus on the experiences 23 SSPs have had implementing advanced drug checking services into their work. The fact sheets include information about how SSPs can administer these services, barriers and opportunities they face in the process, best practices tips, and more!