In recent years, there has been growing support for a harm reduction approach to drug policy, which emphasizes reducing some of the negative consequences associated with drug use through a variety of public health measures. Historically, this approach has been a core value of syringe service programs, expanding into other settings particularly as rising overdose deaths have made educating people about overdose risks and distributing naloxone more urgent.

This two-part workshop will explore how harm reduction is evolving, different interpretations of what harm reduction is (or isn’t), and ways to build bridges between harm reduction services and the continuum of care for people who use drugs. Discussion topics will include how harm reduction providers are offering or connecting participants to various types of treatment, broadly defined, and how treatment providers are incorporating harm reduction strategies into their services.