This session will discuss the role of harm reduction in addiction treatment and how it fits with other systems of care. In addition to covering recent service use patterns in the Northwest, Dr. van Draanen will share evidence and lessons learned from her work with overdose prevention sites (a model of peer-run safe consumption sites) in Vancouver, Canada.

The session will cover changes in overdose prevention site utilization during COVID-19, the importance of peer involvement in service delivery, and outcomes associated with overdose prevention site utilization.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss the role of harm reduction in addiction treatment
2. Understand recent trends in harm reduction service use
3. Examine evidence from safe consumption sites in Vancouver, Canada

Presenter: Jenna van Draanen, PhD. Dr. van Draanen is an interdisciplinary Assistant Professor working in the School of Nursing and the School of Public Health at the University of Washington. She is also an affiliate research scientist at the British Columbia Center on Substance Use in Vancouver, Canada and she works closely with Public Health Seattle & King County.