On October 12, 2022, Prevention is Key will host a breakfast and discussion about the value of harm reduction strategies throughout the state. The event will be held at the Westin Governor Morris Hotel in Morristown, NJ, or virtually via Zoom.  Featured speakers will include NJ Senator Joseph Vitale, who has sponsored a bill authorizing expanded provision of harm reduction services and the provision of support services to persons who use drugs intravenously, as well as one permitting the expungement of hypodermic syringe or needle offense, and repeals criminal offense of syringe possession.  Dr. Stephanie Sarabia, Ramapo College of New Jersey and Dr. Natasha Patterson, The College of New Jersey will discuss the benefits of harm reduction and decriminalization, describing  the successes of the Portugal and Iceland models. Finally, a PIK staff person will talk about what’s “right” about harm reduction philosophy from the perspective of someone with lived experience.

Contact  Barb Kauffman at bkauffman@mcpik.org

“The principles of harm reduction are simple. We must accept that there is drug use in our communities. Some ways of using drugs are more dangerous than other ways. We need to meet people where they are, rather than forcing on them some preconceived notion of what their life should look like,” – Senator Joe Vitale