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Hacks for System Building & “Proceduralization”

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“Proceduralization” is a term coined by harm reductionist Haley Coles to describe the process of creating and, critically, writing down exact protocols for a variety of different tasks and services. These are step-by-step written instructions for how to do everything in the space, from passing out supplies to cleaning the restroom.

The front-end labor on system building is not insignificant, but the time, energy, and effort that this will save is invaluable, especially in any escalated situation where having procedures in accessible, documented places will make everything go much more smoothly.

One tip that long-term harm reduction leaders have for this is to make it a part of weekly meetings and to delegate responsibility for proceduralizing different tasks to the person most familiar with those tasks.

Featured Hacks

These featured hacks highlight creative, practical solutions from harm reduction leaders on the ground. From DIY tools to clever workarounds, each one reflects the ingenuity, care, and real-world experience that keeps this movement alive. 

Edie Springer’s Worker Stances for Clients Who Use Drugs & Harm Reduction Worker: Best Practices

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Harm reduction immediately resonated for Edie, who was herself a former drug user and methadone patient. Faced with the devastation of HIV’s impact on drug-using communities, Edie fully embraced harm reduction and trained hundreds of harm reduction workers who have carried her legacy with them. She developed these worker stances in 1996 and they have been shared among many of us in the harm reduction community for generations.
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Important Terms: Person First Language

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Generally, it’s important to use “person first language” when describing people who are marginalized due to some part of their identity being stigmatized, such as folks struggling with their substance use, people who do sex work, and folks living outside.
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