Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery

D5 - Community-driven Harm Reduction Innovation and Adaptation

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Location: Gaylord National, National Harbor 4/5

Staff Moderator(s)

Shannon Mace, JD, MPH

Senior Advisor
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
DPO, New York

Workshop Presenter(s)

Alexander/a L. Bradley, MPH

Outreach and Community Education Manager
HIPS
Washington, District of Columbia
Tamara Oyola Santiago, MA, MPH, MCHES

Program Leader
Bronx Móvil
Bronx, New York

Slides Handouts

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the underlying social, economic and environmental factors that lead to worsened health outcomes among people who use drugs and people with substance use disorders, including increases in overdose. Despite these challenges, harm reduction organizations rapidly implemented innovative and adaptive strategies to continue to serve their communities. This panel will highlight the ways harm reduction services have changed since the onset of the pandemic, best and promising practices for caring for people who use drugs and recommendations for how to support and partner with community-based harm reduction providers in your area.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss innovative and adaptive ways community-based harm reduction organizations improve the health of people who use drugs.
Compare best and promising practices to support people who use drugs during the pandemic and during times of heightened overdose risk.
Identify opportunities to support and partner with harm reduction organizations in their communities.
Describe ways to implement culturally centered harm reduction strategies and practices.