Rather than focus on individual behaviour, our approach to harm reduction focuses on how systems create and exacerbate harms to people who use drugs and other oppressed groups, often by design and with intent. This session will be an introduction to Harm Reduction; definition, principals and examples.
Objectives:
- Increase our knowledge of Harm Reduction: definition, examples, principles
- Challenge the concept of ‘non-judgmental care’ & how values and beliefs contextualize our work - Increase our knowledge of risk-taking & why we engage in behaviors that we know could harm us
- Review the CARES model (Person-Centered Care, Advocacy, Referrals, Education, Supply Distribution)
February 23, 2026
09:00 AM - 05:00 AM CST
Rather than focus on individual behaviour, our approach to harm reduction focuses on how systems create and exacerbate harms to people who use drugs and other oppressed groups, often by design and with intent. This session will be an introduction to Harm Reduction; definition, principals and examples.
Objectives:
- Increase our knowledge of Harm Reduction: definition, examples, principles
- Challenge the concept of ‘non-judgmental care’ & how values and beliefs contextualize our work - Increase our knowledge of risk-taking & why we engage in behaviors that we know could harm us
- Review the CARES model (Person-Centered Care, Advocacy, Referrals, Education, Supply Distribution)
