November 1, 2021

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

+ ANNOUNCEMENT: Our first-ever virtual gala is coming up quick and we would love to see you there. Join us on November 20, 2021 at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST for Liberation and Libations — get your tickets here!

Liberation + Libations November 20 5 PST / 7 CST / 8 EST Live Virtual Gala

+ ANNOUNCEMENT: It's International Drug Users Day, and today (but really, everyday) we celebrate the achievements and resiliency of people who use drugs everywhere.

International Drug Users Day 1 November 2021 #PowerOfPeers

+ NEWS: Learn more about a new drop-in center in Skid Row and the work of CHRI grantees HHCLA supporting supervised consumption to stop overdose deaths in California in this LA Times article.

+ NEWS: Nationwide naloxone shortages are affecting people who use drugs and harm reduction programs across the country. Read more about how programs in North Carolina are navigating short supplies across the state in Rockingham Now.

+ EVENT: Join Tanagra Melgarejo, National Learning and Engagement Strategist at NHRC, on a panel with The Cognitive Liberty Project about giving power to people who use drugs on November 9 at 3 pm EST. Tanagra will join panelists Hanifa Nayo Washington and Kyle Jespersen — register for the free virtual event here.

+ EVENT: Join Drug Policy Alliance, Bienestar, WCVI and National Harm Reduction Coalition for Reflections from Latin America’s Only Safe Consumption Site: LA SALA with panelists Dr. Jaime Arrendondo, Lourdes Angulo Corral, Said Slim, Jeannette Zanipatin, and moderator Jessenia Garcia, Capacity Building & Community Mobilization Manager at NHRC. This bilingual virtual event will be on November 17 at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST and you can register online here.

Reflections from Latin America's Only Safe Consumption Site: LA SALA. Will California be next? Wed, Nov 11, 2021. 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST Register at bit.ly/LaSalaSCS

+ EVENT: AIDS United has two webinars in November for SSPs:

Syringe Services in the Midwest: Challenges, Barriers, and Opportunities to Starting and Maintaining a Program at November 2, 2021 at 2 PM CST
Harm Reduction and Racial Justice: Discussing the Intersections to Create Avenues to Equitable Syringe Services Programs on November 4, 2021 at 2 PM CST

+ RESOURCE: The Skincare Guide for People Who Use Injection Drugs by Kate Lacour is an illustrated zine with information on caring for and protecting your skin when using injection drugs. Visit the NEXT Distro website to access this and other community-created resources in English and Spanish: https://nextdistro.org/launchresources

+ PODCAST: Catch Episode 4 of the new Drug Futurisms Podcast co-hosted by Claire Zagorski and Alex Betsos and featuring Garth Mullins on Uprooting Prohibited Futures.

+ EVENT: Get ready for Constellations, a new virtual festival from Harm Reduction International (HRI) from November 16-24 aiming to make harm reduction about more than just harm.

If you support emergent and exciting work at National Harm Reduction Coalition, please join our community of monthly donors, the Harm Reduction Champions!

Become a Harm Reduction Champion Today!

+ ACTION: Support the work of Black Visions in the Black-led, coalition-model campaign Yes for Minneapolis seeking to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new department of public safety. Learn more about how to get involved in the campaign or make a donation online.

+ ACTION: It’s time to decriminalize drugs in D.C. Send a note to the D.C. City Council through this advocacy effort between DPA, HIPS DC, and Decrim Poverty DC. Decriminalization of drugs is favored by 83% of people in DC and it’s time local lawmakers end arrests, stop cycles of harm, decriminalize possession of all drugs, and fund a 24-hour harm reduction center.

+ NEWS: This last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of the new HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, citing harm reduction as one of the top four key strategy areas. Read the full press release here.