Free Webinar: Reducing Harm, Increasing Equity

Free webinar: Thursday, Aug. 13, 3-5PM

Learn how people experiencing addiction are criminalized, penalized, and dehumanized within social services, and what you can do to create a healthier environment for the people you serve. We'll discuss harm reduction practices, how racism in our social service systems leads to Black and Brown people being less likely to be given those options, and how we all can make changes to save lives.

Topics will include the basics of the harm reduction approach, what it means, language and how to talk to/about drug users, how to the apply harm reduction approach to your life, and how to be an advocate for the people that fall under the umbrella. Learn about infectious diseases, overdoses, fentanyl testing strips, and the negative outcomes of taking the abstinence only approach and why we need to change that narrative.

This webinar can be applied to many situations in our life when dealing with not only drug users, but also people in recovery and anyone in between (like casual drug users). Harm reduction has a very wide scope and if we take the time to evaluate these potentially harmful situations, we can save lives.

To register, click here.

Meet the Presenters

Ashley Rosser

Harm Reduction Ohio

(she/her)
Ashley is the Harm Reduction Specialist for Thrive Peer Support. She has a lived experience in drug use, homelessness, and is now in recovery herself. Ashley spends her time educating the community on harm reduction education and Narcan distribution.; supplying the community with what they need to save lives.

Zachary Thomas

Writers in Residence

(he/him)
Zachary Thomas is the Co-Founder and Program Director of Writers in Residence, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that teaches creative writing to youth who are incarcerated. He grew up in Dayton, Ohio where his love for reading and writing began towards the end of his high school career at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. Having moved to Cleveland, Ohio to study creative writing, professional writing, and literature at John Carroll University, he has been a Clevelander ever since. He recently returned to his alma mater to pursue a master's in Nonprofit Administration.