2026-2027 | Live Session | Working Together to Reduce Harm and Improve Safety for People Who Use Substances | August 2026-Working Together to Reduce Harm and Improve Safety for People Who Use Substances Presentation

Working Together to Reduce Harm and Improve Safety for People Who Use Substances Presentation

Pdf Summary

This ACAAM didactic curriculum session focused on harm reduction in addiction medicine and caring for people who use substances. The presentation emphasized that overdose deaths are preventable and that every statistic represents a person, family, and community. Harm reduction was defined as practical, evidence-based strategies that reduce the negative consequences of drug use, grounded in respect for people’s rights and the principle that abstinence is not required for care.<br /><br />Key topics included syringe service programs, broader naloxone distribution, compassionate overdose response, and drug checking. The lecture explained why overdose prevention matters, noting that overdose remains a leading cause of accidental injury death and that current crises involve opioids as well as stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. It highlighted the role of the fentanyl supply and the importance of engaging all people who use drugs, not only those in opioid treatment.<br /><br />The session reviewed overdose safety planning: using with others, taking turns, avoiding use behind locked doors, using overdose prevention centers when available, and calling hotlines or friends for virtual spotting. It also covered overdose detection technologies and the social reasons people use alone, including stigma, fear, withdrawal, trauma, and “fentanyl fatigue” among rescuers.<br /><br />Naloxone education was a major focus. The presentation described overdose recognition, rescue breathing/CPR, calling 911, administering naloxone, and staying with the person until help arrives. It stressed using the lowest effective naloxone dose to restore breathing and reduce precipitated withdrawal.<br /><br />Drug checking was addressed through fentanyl test strips and emerging community drug-checking technologies, along with practical guidance on preparing, testing, interpreting results, and making a safety plan.<br /><br />The second hour panel on caring for people who use substances emphasized interdisciplinary teamwork, the value and limits of lived experience, and adapting harm reduction to better serve Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.

Keywords

harm reduction

addiction medicine

overdose prevention

naloxone

syringe service programs

drug checking

fentanyl

stimulants

rescue breathing

community care