February 1, 2021

National Harm Reduction Coalition creates spaces for dialogue and action that help heal the harms caused by racialized drug policies.

+ EVENTS: Whether you’re new to harm reduction or just looking for some refreshers, join us for Foundational Fridays with NHRC taking place every Friday from noon – 2PM ET, from February 2021 – April 2021. This first webinar focuses on the basics of syringe access. Save the date and register, noon-2PM ET, Friday 2/5.

+ POLICY: Repeal the #WalkingWhileTrans ban! This law is a stop and frisk for women of color. It criminalizes people for merely existing in public spaces. It’s passed time for New York to put an end to this statute that has unfairly enabled police profiling of trans and gender non conforming folks, Black and brown folks, immigrants and more. Spread the word and stay updated! Read more here.

+ NEWS: X-Waiver Fight Continues- "On Jan. 14, Health + Human Services announced plans to publish new Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder, which would eliminate the X-waiver requirement for DEA-licensed physicians"..." Many within the field, however, had supported the new guidelines. Among them, National Harm Reduction Coalition medical director Kimberly Sue, MD, PhD, who in a tweet called the Biden administration’s decision “extremely disheartening,” adding that buprenorphine should be made more accessible to providers, especially as overdose death rates are on the rise again."

+ REAL TALK ABOUT COVID: We are hearing a lot of questions about the COVID 19 vaccine. Check out VOCAL-NY’s #VOCALvaccinated recorded town hall from last week exploring those questions and finding answers. Watch the recording on Facebook.

+ REPORT: There are better solutions than relying on punitive measures towards drug use, in Texas and beyond. Explore those solutions in Texas Harm Reduction Coalition and UT Law Civil Rights Clinic’s new report, Strengthening Harm Reduction Services For People Who Use Drugs in Texas.

+ ARTICLE: "Since the start of the pandemic, harm reduction organizations like the Sidewalk Project have been forced to change the way they provide care and support—others have closed entirely. While many remaining operations are still handing out naloxone and syringes and reversing overdoses, the work has grown harder and, in light of COVID-19, more perilous." Read the full article

+ REPORT: As harm reductionists, we know process matters. We've seen from the past what works and what doesn't when it comes to funding our movements. That's why we've been working in coalition to release these principles to guide state and local spending of opioid litigation settlement funds.

+ RESEARCH: I don't even want to go to the doctor when I get sick now: Healthcare experiences and discrimination reported by people who use drugs, Arizona 2019. Read the full research on stigma that people who use drugs experience in Maricopa county, published in Science Direct here. 

Meet Our Policy + Advocacy Team 

Our Policy + Advocacy Team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure we are creating the best possible resources to serve the harm reduction community and we're excited to share updates soon. Until then, get to know who we are and what inspires us to keep doing this work. 

Want to join this amazing team? We’re Hiring a Deputy Director of Public Affairs! Check out our open positions here

+ SURVEY: Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)  has created a short survey to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and overdose crisis on funding for syringe service programs nationwide. Data collected from the survey will help formulate an informed funding level request and help with our collective advocacy with Congress and the Administration for federal funding to support syringe services. The deadline to complete the survey is Today, February 1. Fill out the survey and make sure your voice is heard. 

Want to keep up with all things Policy + Advocacy? Make sure to sign up for the Policy + Advocacy email list today:

+ DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Do you want to join a dynamic and growing organization working to advance harm reduction policies and practices across the United States? Do you have an understanding and vested interest in how the nation’s history of racialized drug policies have caused egregious harm to people most vulnerable to structural violence? Do you have the knowledge and skills to support local advocates at the state level and influence federal policies that lead to equity, wellbeing, and liberation for people who use drugs and their communities? The National Harm Reduction Coalition is seeking a dynamic, committed and strategic Deputy Director of Public Affairs to join their leadership team. See the full job description.