Rob Kent, Esq. writes from nearly 20 years of work in state and federal drug policy, including his time as general counsel at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In this Harm Reduction Series article, he explains how witnessing preventable loss changed his view of harm reduction and strengthened his belief in the full continuum of care. His central question is direct: how can we help people stay alive and get better?

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.

Harm reduction meets people where they are - without requiring abstinence as the starting point. Dr. Andrew Tatarsky's article explains how that shift expands treatment access and improves outcomes.

Post-incarceration syndrome is widely recognized in practice as trauma—often with high overdose risk after release. Sandy Rivers shows how peer support can create continuity of care, reduce recidivism, and strengthen reintegration for individuals and families.

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

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