Skip to main content

To help prevent needlestick injury and pathogen exposure, harm reduction workers should always wear closed shoes while working. Flat shoes that are comfortable for walking, made of leather or another heavy material, are also recommended but not required.

Harm reduction workers are advised to wear long pants made of heavier denim or canvas to site. If skirts or shorts are worn, they should be of heavier fabric and reach at least to the knee. Be thoughtful about wearing dangling jewelry or other accessories that might get caught on things.

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. 

Building internal community means building relationships based on your shared values as a part of a harm reduction organization.
The term “trauma-informed” emerges from a growing understanding of the far reaching ways that trauma impacts health and well-being. Trauma is defined here, in keeping with the scientific literature, as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience(s) that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, and significantly impacts their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.