Harm Reduction

What is Harm Reduction?

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at saving lives and reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Examples of harm reduction strategies include:

• Syringe services programs
• Access to fentanyl test strips
• Increased availability of naloxone
• Removal of barriers to treatment and medications for treatment
• Overdose prevention centers

2026 Statewide Harm Reduction Symposium

Save the Date: 2026 Harm Reduction Symposium 

Overview: Join NYSACHO for the 2026 Annual Statewide Harm Reduction Symposium! This symposium has become a vital event to convene local health departments and community partners working in substance use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction. Bringing together public health professionals, community organizations, and advocates, the symposium provides a platform to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and enhance efforts to reduce substance-related harms and support people who use drugs across New York State.

Audience: Local health departments in NYS and their selected community partner. NYSACHO will provide lodging for these two representatives from each county.

When: November 17-18, 2026
Where: Hilton Garden Inn Troy in Troy, NY
Registration opens: July 6, 2026

Contact: Danielle Pellino ([email protected])
Please see the flyer for more details and stay tuned for more information!

NYSACHO's Monthly Harm Reduction Newsletter: Latest Edition

Recent Webinars

• NACCHO Updates on SUD and Overdose Prevention: Programming, TA, and Current Trends

  March 19, 2026
  NACCHO SUD Slides

• Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in Rural NYS: What Will It Take?

  October 9, 2025
  Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in Rural NYS Slides

• Leveraging Technology for Post-Overdose Response Initiatives: Carteret County’s Experience with Goldie Health

  July 29, 2025
  Leveraging Technology for Post Overdose Response Initiatives Slides

• Reframing Overdose Response Through a Lens of Structural Compassion

  July 23, 2025
  Compassionate Overdose Response Slides

• Leveraging the ORS Team: Strengthening Public Health and Safety Partnerships to Support LHDs in Overdose Prevention

  March 26, 2025
  Leveraging the ORS Team Slides

• Collaborating for Change: County Success Stories in Naloxone Distribution, Youth Prevention, and Harm Reduction

  February 26, 2025
  Collaborating for Change Slides

• Building Effective Leave it Behind Naloxone Programming with First Responders

  October 16, 2024

Grant Funding Webinars (Spring 2023)

• To Apply or Not to Apply, that is the Question: Effective Grant Seeking Strategies to Build Impactful Programs

  February 9, 2023

• The Federal Grant “Giving Tree”: Successful Grant Seeking Strategies for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Grants

  March 2, 2023

• How to Win Funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

  March 23, 2023

• “If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again”: Successful Strategies for Attaining Foundation Grants

  April 13, 2023

State Resources

• Office of Drug User Health | NYSDOH
• Opioid-related Data in New York State | NYSDOH
• SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data | CDC
• Drug Checking Data | NYSDOH
• NY MATTERS Network

Training Resources

• National Harm Reduction Coalition

  Training topics built around evidence-based practices to equip providers and communities to offer effective services for people who use drugs. Trainings can be offered in-person, virtually, and selected courses are available on-demand. Click here.

• In the Works Hub

  Harm reduction courses for communities supporting people who use drugs. Click here.

Miscellaneous Resources

• Extreme Heat, Rising Temperatures, and People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Resource for Local Health Departments 
• Xylazine Resources
  • Xylazine: What Clinicians Need to Know (NYSDOH)
  • Toxicity of Xylazine and How it Impacts Treatment for People Who Use Drugs (Temple University)
  • Pocket-Sized Xylazine and Wound Care Handout (University of Pittsburgh)
  • Xylazine Fact Sheet (NEXT Distro)
• Other Resources
  • Safe Handling of Syringes – guidance on how to safely pick up and dispose of used syringes
  • NEXT Distro – mail order harm reduction supplies
  • Never Use Alone – overdose prevention hotline for people who use alone
  • Harm Reduction Works – self help group rooted in harm reduction (Link to Facebook group)