2025: Empowering the Future through Education, Diversity, and Hope
Love is tough enough: Practicing harm reduction saves lives of people in poverty
Location
Hemmingson Ballroom
Start Date
15-4-2025 12:40 PM
End Date
15-4-2025 1:40 PM
Description
While the negative impacts of drug use impact people in all economic classes, people living in poverty are particularly impacted by the harm. Those living in poverty are more likely to die from overdose deaths (Altekruse et al., 2020). Marginalization and stigma towards people in poverty, as well as disproportionate access to social services and resources, contribute to this harm (Room, 2009). The CDC estimates that in over 40% of opioid overdose deaths, a bystander could have prevented it (CDC, 2018). This project aims to educate people on how to use the concept and practice of harm reduction (Northeast Caribbean MHTTC, 2024) to become better allies to drug users, particularly those living in poverty or homelessness in Washington State. This poster and accompanying pamphlet will explain how marginalization and stigma create barriers to harm reduction for those living in poverty and will provide daily practices for people to improve their allyship. This will include examples of how to swap commonly used discriminatory language to destigmatizing language, an explanation of how to use Narcan to reverse an overdose, and a resource list of places people can obtain Narcan in Washington State. As a tool for action, hand-crocheted pouches will be provided for people to store Narcan.
Recommended Citation
Connor-Smith, Celia, "Love is tough enough: Practicing harm reduction saves lives of people in poverty" (2025). Diversity & Social Justice in Education Conference. 26.
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/dsjconf/2025/general/26
Publication Date
2025
Love is tough enough: Practicing harm reduction saves lives of people in poverty
Hemmingson Ballroom
While the negative impacts of drug use impact people in all economic classes, people living in poverty are particularly impacted by the harm. Those living in poverty are more likely to die from overdose deaths (Altekruse et al., 2020). Marginalization and stigma towards people in poverty, as well as disproportionate access to social services and resources, contribute to this harm (Room, 2009). The CDC estimates that in over 40% of opioid overdose deaths, a bystander could have prevented it (CDC, 2018). This project aims to educate people on how to use the concept and practice of harm reduction (Northeast Caribbean MHTTC, 2024) to become better allies to drug users, particularly those living in poverty or homelessness in Washington State. This poster and accompanying pamphlet will explain how marginalization and stigma create barriers to harm reduction for those living in poverty and will provide daily practices for people to improve their allyship. This will include examples of how to swap commonly used discriminatory language to destigmatizing language, an explanation of how to use Narcan to reverse an overdose, and a resource list of places people can obtain Narcan in Washington State. As a tool for action, hand-crocheted pouches will be provided for people to store Narcan.
Comments
Poster Session B