Harm Reduction at IEOCC in 2021
While reducing harm caused by the opioid crisis is integrated into IEOCC’s mission, the coalition deepened its commitment to the principles of Harm Reduction in late 2020. One of the IEOCC’s five strategic goals the Steering Committee set for 2021 named Harm Reduction as a priority: “Continue to build capacity for Harm Reduction and support Harm Reduction leaders.”
In the past year, the IEOCC has been fortunate to be joined by two experts in Harm Reduction, one local and one national: Inland Empire Harm Reduction (IEHR) and the National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC), who have joined us in our Pharmacy Partnerships for Harm Reduction and Prevention & Outreach workgroups.
What is Harm Reduction?
If Harm Reduction were to be summarized in just a few words (as has been done on the NHRC website www.harmreduction.org), it would consist of “meeting people who use drugs where they are.”
According to the NHRC, “Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.”
As the image below from NHRC (via IEHR) suggests, harm reduction services include an array of supports that range from Medication Assisted Treatment, providing access to Naloxone, providing access to clean syringes and safe disposal, supervised consumption services, housing support, pharmacy access and referral and linkages to other supportive services.
[image credit: National Harm Reduction Coalition]
However, the “what” of Harm Reduction services may not be as informative as the “how” of what Harm Reduction is all about. That is, there are eight principles that provide a thoughtful and compassionate bedrock from which all Harm Reduction services are offered. The eight principles of Harm Reduction are below, paraphrased from the NHRC at this link.
Accepting that drug use (illicit and legal) is part of our world and that we can minimize harm instead of condemning it.
Understand drug use as a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon and acknowledge that some ways of using drugs are clearly safer than others.
Prioritize quality of life (at the individual and community level) over the cessation of drug use when evaluating intervention and policies.
Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs (PWUD) in order to assist them in reducing harm.
Ensuring that people who use drugs have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them
Affirms people who use drugs (PWUD) themselves as the primary agents of reducing the harms of their drug use and seeks to empower PWUD to share information and support each other in strategies which meet their actual conditions of use.
Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm.
Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger that can be associated with illicit drug use.
Harm Reduction at IEOCC
How has IEOCC begun to incorporate Harm Reduction and its principles into its work? The Access to Treatment Workgroup is focusing more than ever on increasing access to (and supply of) naloxone, an important substance that can reverse overdoses, which is more important than ever as the existence of fentanyl in opioids and other illicit substances becomes more widespread.
The Pharmacy Partnerships for Harm Reduction Workgroup has developed a communications plan with a goal to reduce stigma at the pharmacy, to reduce the harm caused by being turned away or treated poorly for attempting to access life-saving naloxone or even MAT prescriptions.
The Methamphetamine Best Practices Workgroup has been delving more deeply into discussing alternative treatments and recovery community resources. They are also exploring the trauma-addiction connection to bring more attention to the root causes of substance use.
And the Prevention & Outreach Workgroup has evolved in 2021 to integrate more local community organization involvement. We’ve been fortunate to be joined by staff from IEHR and the NHRC to assist another community nonprofit REACH OUT in integrating the Harm Reduction approach into their existing community outreach work.
A Note of Thanks
We at the IEOCC want to thank all of our partners for their commitment to stemming the effects of the opioid crisis. Special appreciation goes out to NHRC and our two community-based organization members, IEHR and REACH OUT, for all they do each day to reduce harm on a daily basis.