A clear, compassionate explanation of harm reduction and why meeting people where they are saves lives and builds pathways to recovery.

A powerful call to shift addiction treatment away from punishment and toward compassion and evidence-based care.

Harm reduction challenges abstinence-only thinking by meeting people where they are. This article explores why compassion and flexibility save lives.

John Makohen shares a raw, powerful account of surviving homelessness, heroin addiction, and rebuilding life through harm reduction.

Robert Kent outlines the NYS Bar Association Task Force’s newly adopted recommendations to strengthen opioid addiction policy.

LADC-II Joshua Bennett-Johnson argues that autonomy isn’t optional—it’s the engine of real change. A field-level story shows how honoring choice unlocks engagement and outcomes.

John Makohen—author and counselor with lived experience—details why people who are unhoused face steep barriers to SUD treatment (IDs, phones, insurance, transportation,rigid abstinence-first rules) and calls for Housing First, person-centered MOUD, and compassion over compliance.

The phrase "Lived Experience" represents a growing movement in the field of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery, emphasizing the powerful effect of individuals sharing their journeys to inspire hope and foster healing in others.

Critics continue to question substance use harm reduction. Advocates persist in fighting for it. But the data is precise: harm reduction saves lives. As patterns of drug use shift and risks increase, strategies such as overdose prevention centers, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone access offer a proven path forward. This isn't theory; it's survival. 

Every year on August 31, people worldwide come together for a cause that is painfully personal to many—International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). This day is more than just a date on the calendar; it's a powerful movement. It's an opportunity to grieve, remember, educate, and, most importantly, spark change.