READOUT: White House, HHS Host National Harm Reduction Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) co-hosted a two-day National Harm Reduction Summit with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virtual summit convened a diverse group of partners and experts from local, tribal, state and federal governments and non-government organizations, including representatives from the fields of harm reduction, substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and criminal justice. One of the goals of the summit was to develop a framework of harm reduction for SAMHSA to help guide policies, programs, and practices at the agency.
During the convening, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of National Drug Control Policy, emphasized the importance of expanding access to evidence-based harm reduction strategies, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and syringe services programs (SSPs) as a way to prevent overdoses, connect people to other health services, and save lives. Dr. Gupta also highlighted the importance of working with state, local, and tribal partners to ensure harm reduction services are accessible in all communities nationwide, while also addressing stigma still associated with addiction and drug use, as well as inequities in our Nation’s approach to drug policy.
The summit was hosted at a time when overdose deaths have reached a record high and follows SAMHSA’s announcement of its first-ever $30 million Harm Reduction grant program. The summit also follows ONDCP’s announcement of two state model laws that would help states ensure access to safe, effective, and cost-saving syringe services programs, and make access to naloxone consistent across the country.
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