9th - Harm Reduction Coalition

9th
National Harm Reduction Conference
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH TO SOCIAL JUSTICE
the passage of New York’s innovative 911 Good Samaritan law – the only state law that offers protection from arrest as well
as prosecution – advocates created a public education campaign to inform the public about the law. This presentation will
discuss what we learned from the process of getting buy-in from government agencies, as well as the potential opportunities
the 911 Good Samaritan laws present to educate the public about overdose prevention policy in general. What are the
best strategies to demonstrate to people that calling 911 will not lead to arrest and prosecution How can public education
campaigns also educate government agencies Can 911 laws be used to educate people about other aspects of overdose
prevention, or is it best not to “muddy the message”
Benefit Maximization
Since many drugs, such as psychedelics and marijuana, have proven therapeutic and medicinal uses, a harm reduction
strategy not only seeks to reduce the harms that drugs can cause, but also to maximize their potential benefits. People
who use psychedelics sometimes have challenging emotional experiences that can become dangerous when they lead to
counterproductive medical interventions or contact with law enforcement. In response, some harm reduction services aim
to empower people who use psychedelics and their peers with techniques for assisting others through difficult experiences
and, in doing so, to provide a new framework for looking at “bad trips” as opportunities for psychological growth. What are
the policy implications of psychedelic harm reduction services And how might the scientific research community, policy
advocates, and harm reduction practitioners work together to improve and expand existing theoretical models and on-theground
practices
Jag Davies is the publications manager for the Drug Policy Alliance, where he directs the content and production of the organization’s
reports, advocacy materials, and organizational literature. Davies previously served as policy researcher for the ACLU Drug
Law Reform Project. He also previously served as director of communications for MAPS, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company
conducting FDA clinical trials aimed at developing psychedelics and marijuana into prescription medicines.
Davis, Alan, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
akdavis@bgsu.edu
Acceptance of Non-Abstinence by Clinicians
Previous research has found relatively limited acceptance of non-abstinence goals in addiction treatment settings in the
United States. Because such attitudes may have changed over time, this study was designed to assess the current acceptance
of non-abstinence goals by addiction professionals as a function of type of substance (alcohol vs. drug), severity of
the disorder (DSM-IV abuse vs. dependence) and finality of the outcome goal (intermediate vs. final). The sample comprised
913 members of a national association of addiction professionals who completed a web-based survey. Over one-half of respondents
rated non-abstinence as somewhat or completely acceptable as both an intermediate and final outcome goal for
clients with alcohol abuse, but considerably smaller proportions rated non-abstinence an acceptable intermediate or final
outcome goal for clients with alcohol dependence. Regarding drug-taking clients, one-half and one-third of respondents
rated non-abstinence somewhat or completely acceptable as an intermediate goal and final outcome goal, respectively,
for clients with drug abuse, but fewer rated non-abstinence an acceptable outcome goal for clients with drug dependence.
Although acceptance varied by substance, diagnosis and finality of outcome goal, supporting clients who want to pursue
non-abstinence holds promise to: a) attract and retain in treatment those who reject or are ambivalent about abstinence,
b) provide a respite from excessive, unhealthy consumption to improve the health and wellbeing of addicted clients, and c)
reduce the harmful impacts of excessive consumption on the larger, non-substance abusing or dependent population.
Confidence to Reduce Alcohol Use and Related Harm
To reduce both excessive consumption of alcohol and its consequences, people may employ protective behavioral strategies
intended to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume and to slow the speed of their drinking. However, studies have found
that young adults use these forms of harm reduction inconsistently. The present study had two aims: 1) Combine research
with a harm reduction intervention by distributing T-shirts, printed with six drinking-reduction strategies, as compensa-
28