Hi Friend,

As we face an unprecedented global public health crisis, it is more important than ever that we recognize the needs of our most vulnerable populations, and work to protect the health and well-being of people who use drugs and sex workers. As the country moves forward to address this epidemic, we must not leave anyone in our harm reduction community behind. If lawmakers and public health officials are serious about saving lives, they must recognize that harm reduction principles and services are an essential part of every COVID response. 

That’s why we’ve put together a policy statement that lays out the demands of our community: we must support people who use drugs and sex workers in keeping themselves safe and healthy, we must support harm reduction programs in providing services to our community, and we must decarcerate and house our communities immediately.

This is a moment that can feel at times disempowering, overwhelming, and infuriating but we want you to know you are not alone. The harm reduction community stands together in mutual aid, support, and solidarity. We have already shared a comprehensive resource page, hosted virtual office hours, and identified the dangerous role U.S. drug policy is playing in the spread of COVID-19. To take action, here are some things you can do right now: 

1. Learn about what local action you can take by connecting with your local harm reduction program, drug user union, SWOP chapter, housing and homelessness advocates, and the decarceration community to plug into the work they are doing to demand local and state officials take action. 

2. Click here to tell your representative to fund harm reduction programs and lift the existing restrictions so we're not left behind.

This is a moment to shed light on how harm reduction has always been responding to crisis among our most vulnerable communities - and we need the country to double-down on our efforts. Over the next few weeks we’ll continue to be in touch about how you can make your voice heard to make sure lawmakers are doing their part to support the harm reduction community in responding to the COVID crisis. 

In Community,

Rose MacKenzie

Senior Director of Policy and Mobilization