"[Syringe Service Programs] representatives perceived multiple benefits of safer smoking equipment, including facilitating transitions from injecting to smoking as a way to reduce injection-related harms. Recent findings suggest that individuals who smoke fentanyl experience fewer non-fatal overdoses, infectious diseases, and hospitalizations compared to those who inject it, potentially lowering overall mortality. Additionally, SSP staff noted that safer smoking equipment deepened engagement of new clients, particularly from historically underserved communities, which can foster trust, enable conversations about risk reduction strategies and introduce new clients to additional health promotion services such as naloxone, HIV testing, and referrals to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. This underscores the broader public health benefits of safer smoking equipment distribution."
https://lnkd.in/gTwYfyDD
Substance Use, Harm Reduction, Justice & Mental Health Consultant | Saving Lives First | Led & Mobilized First-in-Nation Drug Policy Reforms Alongside Grassroots Coalitions | Person Of Lived Experience
Minnesota overdoses are way down!
We have seen a stark decline in overdoses in our state (see below) and it's important to acknowledge the various factors that could have contributed to this positive outcome. 🙌
1️⃣ The legalization of all drug paraphernalia and drug residue, a first-of-its-kind move in the nation, has provided a safer environment for individuals who use substances. By removing the stigma and legal barriers associated with drug-related items, we are encouraging open conversations and harm reduction strategies which increase service participation.
2️⃣ We have also passed legislation providing for the expansion of syringe service providers and the implementation of protections for their workers. This initiative has not only prevented the spread of diseases but has also created a bridge to connect individuals with support and resources for their recovery journey. We have operations opening as we speak across the state adding to a robust system.
3️⃣ Another significant step forward has been allowing medication as prescribed into sober homes. By recognizing the importance of individualized treatment plans, we are enabling individuals in recovery to receive the necessary medications under proper supervision, ensuring their well-being and increasing their chances of successful recovery. We worked with sober homes and agreed that the time is now, and trust their organizations to implement these changes in their communities. They know them best!
4️⃣ The legalization of cannabis has also played a crucial role in reducing overdoses. By providing a safer alternative to illicit substances, we are giving individuals the option to choose a less harmful path and reducing their dependence on other potentially more harmful chemicals.
5️⃣ Access and expansion of methadone as a safe supply has been instrumental in our fight against overdoses. Ensuring the availability of this medication has improved the chances of recovery for many individuals, reducing the risks associated with opioid abuse.
6️⃣ Last but not least, the establishment of safe recovery sites, the third in the nation, has been a game-changer. These sites offer a supportive and non-judgmental environment for individuals seeking help, providing a pathway to recovery and reducing the likelihood of overdoses.
Together, these innovative approaches and progressive policies have created a positive impact on our community, saving lives and offering hope to those struggling with substance use disorder.
Let’s not forget, persons with lived experience like myself wrote and advocated for these initiates. Connected with the experts in the room, Black, Brown and Indiginous persons and organizations, direct service and physician orgs, were turning the tide!
Let's continue to support these initiatives and work towards a healthier and safer Space for all. 💙💪
#MinnesotaProud#AddictionRecovery#HarmReduction#ProgressivePolicies
The Michigan dispensary data shows something most people aren't ready to discuss.
When counties opened cannabis dispensaries, opioid deaths dropped 30% over the next decade.
That number floored me.
It’s from a University of Michigan study looking at county-level mortality trends. And while correlation isn’t causation, it’s hard to ignore what’s happening here.
Eight years in behavioral health showed me first hand how addiction destroys everything it touches. The opioid crisis wasn't numbers on a dashboard, it was seeing people who had lost everything fight like hell to get their heads back above water.
Cannabis as harm reduction always made sense to me. Lower toxicity, no overdose potential, different relationship with dependence. But 30% mortality reduction? That's lives saved at scale.
The Michigan data shows something I've believed since starting Rebel Rabbit: people want safer alternatives. They just need access to them.
I think about the path that led me here. How different things might have been if communities had cannabis dispensaries instead of pill mills on every corner.
Not saying anyone has to become a stoner. But people should be able to choose something that won't kill them.
The substitution effect we've been talking about for years is now showing up in mortality statistics. Real people choosing cannabis over substances that could end their lives.
That's harm reduction working exactly as intended.
Seeing any of this play out in your area?
#harmreduction#cannabis#opioidcrisis#publichealth
Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all—and for millions of people seeking healing, traditional approaches don’t always meet them where they are.
On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with Quinn Lapeyre, founder of CaliSober Recovery, a growing movement that’s challenging outdated ideas about recovery and creating inclusive, judgment-free spaces for people navigating substance use, trauma, and mental health.
Drawing from his own lived experience, Quinn built CaliSober Recovery around an all-pathways philosophy—one that embraces harm reduction, peer support, and individualized healing journeys. Instead of rigid rules or stigma, the CaliSober approach focuses on meeting people where they are and empowering them to move toward healthier, more stable lives at their own pace.
In this powerful conversation, Montel and Quinn explore how recovery communities are evolving, why compassion and inclusion are essential, and how nontraditional approaches—including cannabis-inclusive recovery models—are helping many people rebuild their lives when other options have failed.
Quinn shares the story behind founding CaliSober Recovery, how peer-led support communities can transform lives, and why creating safe spaces for honest conversations about mental health, addiction, and trauma is more important than ever.
The discussion also dives into the role of harm reduction in modern recovery, how stigma still prevents many people from seeking help, and how rethinking traditional frameworks like the 12-step model through a trauma-informed lens can open doors for those who have felt excluded from recovery spaces.
Whether you’re on your own recovery journey, supporting someone you love, or simply interested in new perspectives on mental health and healing, this episode offers an eye-opening look at a movement that’s reshaping the future of recovery.
In this episode, Montel and Quinn discuss:
• The personal journey that led to the creation of CaliSober Recovery
• What the term “CaliSober” really means
• Harm reduction and why it’s gaining momentum in recovery communities
• Cannabis-inclusive recovery and addressing the stigma around it
• Reimagining traditional recovery models through a trauma-informed lens
• The power of peer support and community in healing
• How families can better support loved ones navigating recovery
• Why recovery should be as unique as the individual experiencing it
Quinn Lapeyre’s work reminds us that healing doesn’t follow a single path—and that compassion, connection, and open-mindedness can help transform lives.
https://lnkd.in/enyAVCmP
#safetytuesday: Apply the Hierarchy of Controls – Protect Yourself and Your Team.
When addressing workplace hazards, follow the hierarchy of controls to ensure the most effective safety measures are in place:
Elimination: The most effective way to control a hazard is to remove it completely. For example, if a task can be performed without using a hazardous chemical, eliminate the need for that chemical altogether.
Substitution: If elimination isn’t possible, replace the hazard with something less dangerous. For instance, substitute a toxic solvent with a non-toxic alternative.
Engineering Controls: If the hazard can’t be removed or substituted, use engineering controls to isolate people from the hazard. This could involve installing safety guards on machinery or implementing ventilation systems to reduce exposure to harmful fumes.
Administrative Controls: When engineering controls aren’t enough, change the way people work. This includes training, shift rotations, and setting clear safety procedures. For example, rotating tasks to reduce repetitive strain or limiting the amount of time spent in a noisy area.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When all other controls have been applied, PPE serves as the last line of defense. This includes wearing hard hats, gloves, goggles, and hearing protection. For example, in areas where dust can’t be fully eliminated, ensure all employees wear appropriate respiratory protection.
Remember, safety is more than just PPE, it's about addressing risks at every level. By following the hierarchy of controls, we can ensure a safer workplace for everyone.
#MedupiMiningService#zeroharm#safetytuesday#ishallworksafely- My family awaits me at home.
Not all counties are in the weird and ineffective "compulsory treatment" bandwagon. Los Angeles County just launched a new initiative "Reaching the 95%" — or R95 — and its goal is to engage with more people than the fraction of Angelenos already getting addiction treatment. They are trying to nudge addiction treatment facilities to change their approach, by offering financial incentives for those that meet R95 requirements. Among them: changing their rules to not automatically eject people who have a “lapse” of drug use. To get R95 funding, they also cannot require people to be totally abstinent before being admitted. And under R95, treatment programs are also being encouraged to partner with syringe programs rooted in “harm reduction” — a philosophy focused on minimizing the harmful effects of drug use — to address the needs of people who may not want to enter or remain in treatment.
Some treatment providers “view us as the enemy instead of as allies,” said Soma Snakeoil, executive director of the Sidewalk Project, which provides Narcan spray to reverse overdoses and other services on L.A.’s Skid Row.
With R95, she said, “the biggest change is that harm reduction organizations and treatment providers are talking to each other in a way that was not happening ❤️ #harmreductionworks#harmreductiosaveslives