ABOUT THE LEARNING SESSION

Harm reduction (HR) approaches to care must be integrated into the substance use disorder (SUD) continuum of care to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic. Rhode Island is taking concrete steps to include HR into its continuum of care, including opening the first state-sanctioned overdose prevention center (OPC) in the nation and widely distributing anti-stigma educational campaign materials. HR saves lives and improves systemic equity yet is still stigmatized by the community and behavioral health professionals. The call for anti-stigma education is clear, and Rhode Island answered with two innovative resources for both people who use substances and behavioral health professionals alike. Resources were produced by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center and Public Consulting Group for Rhode Island’s Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

Stack the Deck Rhode Island is a deck of cards sized to fit into harm reduction kits that promote safer substance use practices and finding compassionate care and resources in the community. The joyful design aesthetic and content were primarily inspired and informed by people with lived and living experience. The deck provides at-a-glance concrete science and resources while aiming to help dispel stigma associated with HR by celebrating all positive changes.

The Harm Reduction Guide for Prevention Professionals in Rhode Island aims to advance HR within the SUD continuum of care in partnership with prevention. Information in this guide intends to help prevention professionals learn more about shared goals and priorities between the HR and prevention communities, ways to collaborate, best practices for communication and services, and lists practical HR resources.

The webinar will lead participants through an introduction of HR, how HR practices and services save lives and improve equity within the SUD continuum of care, best practices for engaging affected populations, and resource highlights from Rhode Island.

The Presenter: Samantha Bone, MS, Public Consulting Group

About the webinar: This webinar is planned and hosted by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, a program funded through cooperative agreement from SAMHSA. This webinar has been pre-approved by the Maine Prevention Certification Board, an IC&RC member board, for 1.5 contact hour. Participants who complete this webinar will receive a certificate of completion for 1.5 contact hours. For questions about this webinar, please contact Kristen Erickson, [email protected]