Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery

C7D - Decreasing Harm, Increasing Connection — Integrating Harm Reduction Approaches in Community-based Substance Use Treatment Programs

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Location: Gaylord National, Woodrow Wilson Ballroom BCD

Workshop Presenter(s)

Brad Finegood, MA, LMHC

Strategic Advisor
Public Health – Seattle & King County
Seattle, Washington
Lauren Pristo, MPH

Director of Community Engagement
McCall Center for Behavioral Health
Torrington, Connecticut
John Hamilton, LMFT, LADC

President and CEO
Liberation Programs, Inc.

As the US continues to experience the highest overdose and overdose death rates ever recorded, harm reduction services are essential. Supported by decades of evidence, harm reduction strategies, such as syringe services, naloxone distribution and drug checking, should be implemented widely to prevent overdose and other substance use-related harms. Grounded in non-judgmental and non-coercive principles, harm reduction seeks to “meet people where they’re at, but not leave them there.” Better understand the foundational principles of harm reduction, evidence-based harm reduction strategies and practical ways your organization can adopt harm reduction to better support your communities.

Learning Objectives:

Describe foundational principles of harm reduction.
Outline evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
Identify practical steps that can be taken to adopt harm reduction strategies.