SAMHSA funding drives harm reduction activities

Abstract

Although many people are still confused about what “harm reduction” means (overdose prevention centers where people can inject heroin? free naloxone and fentanyl test strips? low barrier methadone and buprenorphine treatment? and so on) the federal government views only naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and syringe services programs as fundable. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which has announced a $30 million grant for harm reduction, described it succinctly: Access to PrEP, a medication which reduces sexually transmitted HIV, as well as to all HIV and HPV testing, are part of harm reduction. So is access to condoms and “comprehensive sex education.” SAMHSA views these tools, which are by no means new, as harm reduction prevention goals. Likewise, reducing overdose deaths by providing naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses is a priority. Masks, safe smoking supplies (such as safe crack pipes), and stigma reduction are also key. Peers who are in recovery can be supported with this. Stay tuned to find out how the $30 million to $10 million a year over three years in grant funding will be used by states and grantees. The harm reduction community, which was ecstatic about the grants at first, became annoyed when it appeared that there was an application process which was viewed as cumbersome and which would result in only the big players winning awards (see “SAMHSA announces harm‐reduction grants,” ADAW Dec. 13, 2021; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33290).