December 15, 2021

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

+ NEWS: Biden’s Drug Overdose Strategy Pushes Treatment for Some, Prison for Others — In this op-ed by NHRC Medical Director Dr. Kimberly Sue for The Hill, Dr. Sue discusses how the current administration’s approach to addressing the overdose crisis. She wrote: “Biden is trying to have it both ways. While publicly supporting public health strategies, he’s zealously pushing new laws that disproportionately harm Black and Latino people by sending them to prison and discouraging them from getting treatment. The overdose crisis is a racial justice issue and until everyone is able to get the medical treatment they need, we will never dig ourselves out of this hole.” 

+ ICYMI - NEW RESOURCE:  Harm Reduction is Healthcare: Sustainable Funding for Harm Reduction Programs — With the U.S. reaching 100,000 overdose deaths in the first year of the pandemic, there is an urgent need for the healthcare system to fund work that is designed and driven by people who use drugs across the country. National Harm Reduction Coalition, Vital Strategies, In The Works, and Anka Consulting partnered to produce a new toolkit, including a free 90-minute e-course, a downloadable workbook for harm reduction organizations, and two educational handouts for putting that new knowledge into practice. If you missed the Facebook Live with toolkit contributors, you can catch up on the recorded video here.

+ ARTICLE:  To Save Lives, Overdose Antidote Should Be Sold Over-the-Counter, Advocates Argue — ”I can’t look someone in the eye and tell them I can’t give them medicine that’s going to save their lives.” — Louise Vincent. Learn more about why harm reduction programs across the country are pushing for naloxone to be sold over the counter to challenge structural barriers to the overdose reversal medication in the U.S. 

+ FUNDING:  New Funding Opportunities for Harm Reduction Monitoring & Evaluation — With support from the CDC and in partnership with the University of Washington, NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials) announced new funding opportunities to promote monitoring & evaluation of SSPs and support the use of data for SSP program implementation. 

+ EVENT:  Marsha P. Johnson Community Leader Awards — Join the NY Transgender Advocacy Group for a virtual event December 17 on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This is the third annual Marsha P. Johnson Community Leader Awards and attendees will join NYTAG Executive Director Kiara St. James and six intersectional community leaders on the significance of D17, sex worker’s rights, the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, and their visions and strategies for the future. 

+ RESOURCE:  Online Worker Safety: A Practical Harm Reduction Guide on Why and How Sex Workers Can Protect Ourselves at Work — This visual and printable guide from Hacking Hustling offers tips for safer messaging, gifts, payments, VPN and navigating denial of service from online platforms for sex workers. 

+ SYMPOSIUM:  Submit a proposal for Brave Technology Coop’s Tech and Harm Reduction Symposium, held on January 11, 2022. Share how you’re using tech creatively in your harm reduction work! Submit an abstract for the symposium by Dec 17 here.

+ TRAINING:   Hep C Medical Care and Treatment Update, Part 2 — Join Jose Martinez, Hepatitis C + Harm Reduction Associate at NHRC, for the second part of a 2-part training for New York Hep C navigators on what to expect for their clients and for themselves through treatment processes. This class will provide peer workers with an opportunity to reflect on a wide range of ethical issues as well as their own attitudes and beliefs about HCV treatment with the goal of building peer worker skills in motivating and engaging clients in HCV medical care and treatment. 

+ TRAINING:   Need a refresher on Opioids 101 or Stimulants 101? View two recorded trainings on California PTC delivered by Tanagra Melgarejo, MSW, National Learning and Engagement Strategist at NHRC. 

+ RESOURCE:   Explore a framework for conflict transformation in movement-building groups from Interrupting Criminalization and Dragonfly Partners called In It Together. The guide supports the use of human-centered, non-punitive accountability practices in movement spaces and is available for free download. 

+ FACT SHEET:  Get familiar with new state and federal guidance for PrEP coverage in California in this fact sheet from the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers. Most private health plans are now required to cover both PrEP medications & clinical services without cost sharing. 

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

Texas Harm Reduction Alliance

• Recruiting New Board Members 
• Full Time Outreach Lead
• Full Time Outreach Worker
• Full Time Austin Organizer 
• Full Time Texas Organizer 
• Contract Trainers
• Contract Grant Writer and Fundraiser

On Point Harm Reduction

• Make history and work with the teams in New York operating the country’s first two sanctioned overdose prevention sites. Find a list of open positions with On Point Harm Reduction on their LinkTree here. All training provided. 

National Harm Reduction Coalition

• National Overdose Prevention Strategist 
• Program and Administrative Coordinator
• LGBTQIA+ Health & Harm Reduction Manager
• Disability Justice and Accessibility Consultant RFP

Mount Sinai, Project REACH Social Worker

National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO), Program Analyst for the HIV, STI, & Viral Hepatitis team

Hiring? Send us a note about open positions in harm reduction to [email protected] to have a job post shared here.