February 15, 2022

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

+ NEWS:  Crack pipes are harm reduction! Harm Reduction needs leaders who will center the wellbeing of people who use drugs over sensational media frenzies. What we saw last week in headlines is a result of stigma and the ongoing, racist war on (people who use) drugs. Here’s a small roundup of some resources to understand what’s been going on.

Review of what happened this last week:

• Outrage at Biden Administration Caving to “Crack Pipes” Pressure article from Filter
• No, The Biden Administration Is Not Giving Black People Crack Pipes And Calling It Racial Equity article from Newsone 
• Hear from Monique Tula and others in this Washington Post article
• Watch this Interview with Tracie Gardner from the Black Harm Reduction Network on the #RolandMartinUnfiltered show (starting from minute 37)

Take action:

• Join Drug Policy Alliance in calling on  the Biden Administration to let evidence dictate health policy and prioritize saving lives
• Whether you love harm reduction and want to share about it, or you want to make sure folks know that pipes ARE harm reduction, share these graphics on social media! Download the graphics here to share on your own socials.
• Invest in what works - donate right now to NHRC and support our work in building power with people who use drugs

Resources for safer use: 

• Safer smoking from Catie: bit.ly/SaferSmoking
• Safer snorting from Catie: bit.ly/SaferSnorting
• Safer injection from NHRC: bit.ly/GettingOffRight
• Safer use from NEXT Distro: nextdistro.org/resources

+ EVENT:  Join Caracole, Greater Cincinnati’s HIV services nonprofit, for a Q+A series about their journey from harm reduction vending machine idea to execution. These sessions are geared to harm reduction advocates and providers. Scheduled dates are: Friday , March 11 – 2:00 PM and Friday, April 15 – 2:00 PM People can learn more or register at caracole.org/page/machine

+ WEBINAR:  On February 22, 2022, catch Anthony Salandy, NHRC’s Managing Director of Programs and Interim ED, on AIR’s Social Determinants of Addiction 101 Webinar. Learn more and register here.

+ ONLINE LEARNING:  Did you know we have an online learning lab that offers harm reduction courses, resources, and reflection spaces? From Harm Reduction 101 to Healthcare Financing to Harm Reduction Organizing, we’ve got your online learning covered! Check out our full course offerings here.

+ FEDERAL:  The Earn It Act is back, and it’s not good. Sometimes referred to as the next SESTA/FOSTA, this act misses its mark at targeting sex trafficking and instead censors sex workers, harm reductionists, educators, queer and trans folks, and puts everyone’s internet privacy at risk. Learn more about the Earn It Act and take action here. (And check out this great post by Hacking//Hustling about the first iteration of the Earn It Act in 2020 listing some different ways SWers can take of themselves and each other if the bill does pass/as internet censorship increases.)

+ TRAININGS:  Don't get stuck in the same ol' drug war narrative traps when you're testifying for harm reduction legislation and drug policy change! Tune into Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition's Harm Reduction Advocacy Day Training "Testifying Part 1: Avoiding Drug War Traps…" Follow that up with "Testifying Part 2: Honoring Our Love, Ourselves, and Our Grief." (Also, follow BHRC's work to pass HB0481, decriminalization of drug paraphernalia!)

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

+ Louisiana Dept of Health: Hep C Lead Navigator

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