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.