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Workforce and Peer Development

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The future of harm reduction depends on strong, skilled, supported teams. This section focuses on building leadership, peer-delivered services, and harm reduction as a workplace culture—where people can thrive, not just survive.

Open Society Foundations has a Guide to Harm Reduction at Work

NHRC published a Toolkit for Peer Delivered SSP

The Harm Reduction Hacks

Other sets of external resources including toolkits, practical guides, and deep-dive materials on topics like de-escalation, mental health support, participant accountability, overdose response, and more:

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. 

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.
Read this Hack

Hacks for Reaching Affirmation & Accord

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One of the main goals of active listening with an agitated person is reaching affirmation and accord. You are looking to try and find ways to agree with the person who is agitated. Even if you don’t entirely agree with the person, try to find at least a small way in which they may be right, or in which you can be on the same page, or team, with them.
Read this Hack