
HARM REDUCTION

About the Movement
Harm reduction is a movement that started in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. It was introduced in the United States by Edith Springer and was fine-tuned by urban Black and Brown communities. It gained momentum during the 1980s and 1990s as communities struggled to respond to the AIDS crisis. Since then, it has provided life-saving medication and supplies to thousands of people across the country. Today, harm-reduction programs are on the front line of addressing the opioid crisis that is impacting every corner of our nation.
Foundational Principles
Training community members on how to reverse overdoses and safely dispose of syringes
Connecting vulnerable individuals to hepatitis C and HIV testing/treatment
Linking participants to substance-use and medical treatment
Providing case management services to marginalized individuals