harm reduction

Allison Badger presented at the NCJA Advisory Council meeting. Information on statewide harm reduction strategies was presented to meeting attendees. It was a great opportunity to gain insight from state representatives, specifically from North Carolina and Wisconsin. The feedback was instrumental in furthering the Bureau of Justice Assistance's ongoing efforts to support harm reduction initiatives nationwide. In summary, the meeting was both productive and informative.

This webinar will explore the ramifications of the recent significant shift in harm reduction policies that impacts nearly every human service system, especially the justice system. It will outline the scope of harm reduction strategies SAMHSA intends to fund and support, current harm reduction resources that may benefit reentering RSAT participants, and the programs that are likely to become available soon.

Drug court practitioners and harm reductionists have a shared interest in improving public health and community safety. These two fields are also likely to co-exist and confront similar challenges for years to come. As such, this presentation represents a new and necessary conversation— one that will help to bridge the gap between the two contrasting paradigms. The training will provide an overview of what harm reduction is— its origins, evolution, and guiding principles— and highlight the benefits and challenges of integrating harm reduction in the drug court space.

This RSAT session will introduce issues surrounding stigma and shame and its relationship to treatment, including addressing how HIV and SUD/OUD are related. Additionally, this webinar will cover the "Two-Pronged Approach" to working against Stigma/Shame and the tools needed to implement a harm-reduction oriented Shame and Stigma Reduction Program. This session will also discuss how to interact with local stakeholders and community members to best serve and support clients with HIV/AIDS