Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (OTAP) Harm Reduction Summit

August 3 & 4, 8:30-2:30 Pacific

SAMHSA OTAP is offering a two-day Harm Reduction Summit for Native and non-Native communities. Harm Reduction saves lives, reduces suffering, and creates connections to people. These connections often result in finding treatment, recovery, and other needed services when a person is ready to accept help. However, many people still do not fully understand harm reduction and resistance to it still exists across all communities, including Tribal communities. Education is a key to overcoming this resistance, and this Summit seeks to educate participants through the experience of experts within the AI/AN community who are leaders and advocates of harm reduction.

Topics:

A history of harm reduction, with a focus on harm reduction principles, progress, and challenges within the AI/AN community.

Specific harm reduction strategies, with field experts who will share how they have begun, expanded, and run various harm reduction programs.

Efficacy of various harm reduction strategies and some of the causes contributing to the current overdose epidemic.

Federal resources and programs available to help start or expand harm reduction programs.