Harm reduction is not permission to use. It is a practical plan to keep people alive long enough to have choices. John Makohen offers a direct, compassionate guide to building an overdose safety plan before the most dangerous moment arrives. He covers naloxone, fentanyl risk, reduced tolerance after a break, using a safety buddy, avoiding substance mixing, choosing a safer space, using clean supplies, and writing the plan down so people know what to do under stress.

Therapist Joshua Bennett-Johnson gives a critical breakdown of xylazine’s rise in the drug supply, its deadly interaction with fentanyl, and why traditional overdose response is no longer enough. Essential reading for clinicians and communities.

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