Midwest Harm Reduction Institute

12/19/2023

Start 2024 by going back in time with NHRC's Lighthouse Learning Collective! Join Lighthouse on Jan. 12 for "Q***r History of Harm Reduction Part 2," happening from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST. The session will be recorded and have live ASL interpretation. Register today: bit.ly/LLSeries4

12/18/2023

01/14/2023

As if we need yet another reason to end this war on people and instead provide safe access & supplies toward less harm & risks in self and community care. When if not now? What more will it take? Compassion & care could be the hallmark fingerprints of humanity & solutions, and end violence & judgment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/health/fentanyl-xylazine-drug.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR0Q28biKOx1ZJsd34mapilb34firR6wcdxQQQgzcaB08uLVkIilwT90wM8&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

A veterinary tranquilizer called xylazine is infiltrating street drugs, deepening addiction, baffling law enforcement and causing wounds so severe that some result in amputation.

01/14/2023

https://www.inquirer.com/health/opioid-addiction/supervised-consumption-site-opioid-overdose-crisis-new-york-philadelphia-20230103.html?fbclid=IwAR3qChFDls1dexK-RXKTekNHS9VYVXnqJH_lzbtPfJ2m0GA3kxGPnDw4oEs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Since last November, New York’s sites together have served more than 2,100 people using drugs nearly 50,000 times. No one has died there.

01/14/2023

11/18/2022

https://harmreduction.org/news/dope-sro-project/

The DOPE SRO (single-resident occupancy) initiative created in 2020 and expanded in 2021 addresses the rising number of opioid-related overdoses by people who use drugs and live alone.

07/17/2022

Love doesn’t enable addiction.

06/30/2022

Calling San Francisco and other places “failed” cities for liberal policies is bad journalism. At worst, it exacerbates harm.

04/25/2022

The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot provides cash relief to residents impacted by COVID-19. 5,000 households will be selected by random lottery to receive $500/month for 12 months. Visit chicago.gov/cashpilot for eligibility requirements and to apply.

04/25/2022

03/10/2022

Check out this mindfulness retreat from our friends at Sana Healing Collective! Sliding scale registration, and proceeds go to our Community Care Program which offers low cost holistic mental health services.

02/23/2022

At 3:00 pm today, the House Human Services Committee will discuss Rep. Ford's Overdose Prevention Sites Pilot Program bill, HB110. The bill will create a pathway for the Department of Human Services to create a license to establish a pilot Overdose Prevention Site program.

You can watch the committee hearing at 3pm today by clicking on this link and going to Virtual Room 2: https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp



Please fill out a witness slip in support of HB110! Click the link below and fill out your information as follows:



https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/127922?committeeHearingId=19191&LegislationId=127922&LegislationDocumentId=176200


To file a slip in support:

1. Fill out the form with your information. If you do not represent a firm or organization, please write 'self.'

2. To indicate your support of the bill, please click “Proponent."

3. Choose "record of appearance only."

4. To submit the slip, click the button "create slip."



You will get an email confirmation if your witness slip was processed.

The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein.

02/04/2022

Join the Illinois Psychedelic Society and Students for Sensible Drug Policy for a Virtual Town Hall to introduce the Illinois Compassionate Use of Natural Plants and Fungi Act, and discuss the latest in drug policy reform and advocacy in the U.S.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 6:30pm CST

Featuring expert panelists:
•Rep LaShawn Ford, (D) IL District 8,
•Dr Vilmarie Fraguade Narloch, Director of Drug Education at SSDP, Co-founder of Sana Healing Collective
•Sam Chapman, Executive Director at Healing Advocacy Fund, Former Campaign Manager for Oregon Measure 109
•Mark Peysakhovich, Legislative and Public Affairs Consultant, MBM Advantage LLC

Moderated by Jean Lacy and Nathan Gates of the Illinois Psychedelic Society.

Public Input Q&A Session at the End.

Please register at the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/SSDPTOWNHALL

Facebook event page:
https://facebook.com/events/s/virtual-town-hall-illinois-com/933779224165272/

01/17/2022

Later this month, patrons at 14 branches across the city will be able to get a free Narcan kit. The Austin locations are at 5615 W. Race Ave., 5724 W. North Ave. and 4856 W. Chicago Ave.

10/25/2021

Reminder! The Alliance for Collaborative (ACDC) learning summit is NEXT WEEK!
Please register! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acdc-drug-checking-summit-2021-tickets-187755911987
We will have Spanish interpretation for all three days!
We really don’t want the cost to prohibit people from attending, especially grassroots & volunteering people.
If you or someone you know wants to join but doesn't have the funds, please email me at [email protected] for a discount code.
---
¡¡¡La Conferencia de Aprendizaje de ACDC 2021 empieza la próxima semana!!!
¡Por favor regístrese! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acdc-drug-checking-summit-2021-tickets-187755911987
¡Vamos a tener interpretación a español durante los tres días!

Realmente no queremos que el costo prohíbe su asistencia, especialmente las personas voluntarias.
¡Si conoce a alguien que quiera asistir, pero no tiene plata, dígale que envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]!

ACDC has been improving drug user-facing, harm reduction- based drug checking since 2019. Attend our annual learning summit!

10/13/2021

Interested in drug checking? Wanna learn about the most pressing issues facing drug checkers today? Then the Alliance for Collaborative Drug Checking summit is for you!! Happening on Nov 3-5, 2021.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acdc-drug-checking-summit-2021-tickets-187755911987

ACDC has been improving drug user-facing, harm reduction- based drug checking since 2019. Attend our annual learning summit!

07/26/2021

Coming up next month, the Illinois Harm Reduction Summit! Register now! https://about.illinoisstate.edu/harmreductionsummit/

The Illinois Harm Reduction Summit will promote the delivery of harm reduction services in Illinois, which engage people who use drugs to support connection, safety, and an improved quality of life. 2021 Summit Planning Committee Event Chair: Jennifer EpsteinSummit Logistics: Julie DavisSummit Logis...

07/06/2021

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00130-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email&fbclid=IwAR0FJWFQGAHroD6SCEMfEMBzdLLJDN9DSs3ycv1bTEvtt76NluHR0mP6nKw

It is 50 years since the June 18, 1971 address by US President Richard Nixon that publicised the US administration's war on drugs. Nixon declared that drug abuse was “America's public enemy number one”. Despite Nixon mentioning “rehabilitation, research, and education” in his speech, the war...

07/04/2021

https://filtermag.org/pandemic-nightlife-drug-supply/amp/

“All of my friends in the scene have been going back out a lot,” said Alex*, a regular on Manhattan’s ...

05/06/2021

https://filtermag.org/new-zealand-drug-checking-festivals/amp/

Festival-goers in New Zealand were taking what they thought was pure M**A. But days after ingestion, the drugs were leading ...

04/06/2021

Hi friends! Please consider adding your name (individual or org) to this letter by this Friday, 4/9/21 urging the ONDCP to acknowledge OPS as harm reduction. This was created by the great Kat Humphries of Harm Reduction Action Center in Denver. Please share with friends far and wide!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbiepoaEdIUIQaF4MTEvUZs7RA9kndfuVDXsbnKHv_3XxDXQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2ofJoT2pFLPRU9Zz1AQXcjz6R1JEG9pDbBdAbgsZy8t3ieulN0FuI2bdQ

TO: The United States Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) DATE: 04/06/2021 RE: Overdose Prevention Sites in the United States as an Evidence-Based Harm Reduction Effort Regina LaBelle, Esq. Acting Director Office of National Drug Control Policy Executive Office of President Joseph R. Bide...

03/31/2021

Check out this great CND side event!

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/SSDP-at-CND-64/register?fbclid=IwAR1FR5QH_4SWk3MbM0tOx0Eoo-n5Wwa8yGWkoU8Fg13CUuPGnLRcq0NKL-c

Register now for Students for Sensible Drug Policy's event on Crowdcast, scheduled to go live on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at 6:10 am CDT.

03/28/2021

Come on Chicago, catch up.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby says the city will no longer prosecute for prostitution, drug possession and other low-level offenses.

03/18/2021

12/21/2020

HOW TO REMOTE SPOT SOMEONE WHO USES DRUGS: Let's keep everyone safe and secure over the holidays. Thank you for Natalie Kaminski's expertise for her life saving knowledge!