Why We Need Harm Reduction

Harm Reduction is an approach that emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of those served, and offer low-threshold options for accessing substance use disorder treatment and other healthcare and community services.

Harm Reduction saves lives by being available and accessible in a manner that emphasizes the need for humility and compassion toward people who use drugs.

Just to note harm reduction isn’t a new thing. Classic harm reduction methods is telling people not to drink and drive and giving out condoms.

Our speaker, Jamie Decker, works for Hancock County Public Health and is a Harm Reduction Coordinator/Peer Support Specialist, SafeWorks syringe service program. He is also on the board of Harm Reduction Ohio. He will tell his story and why harm reduction is needed.

Harm Reduction Ohio (HRO) is a human rights organization working to improve the health and happiness of people who use/d drugs.

HRO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports drug policies based on science, health, compassion and human rights. We are the largest distributor of naloxone in Ohio: 42,000 naloxone kits, which reversed several thousand overdoses, in 2022.

This event is free and open to the public.

We will be in the Auditorium in the Basement. There is an elevator to use if needed.