2020 Washtenaw Opioid Summit - Breakout Session - Harm Reduction
The COVID-19 Pandemic has created unique challenges as it relates to substance use. During the height of the pandemic, emergency departments were flooded with critical COVID-19 patients, while behavioral health services were forced to scale back outreach services, migrate to “virtual” support platforms, and contend with over-burdened healthcare system.
This pandemic has yet again highlighted the need for expanded access to harm-reduction services for people who use drugs. By building a support landscape where people are given the resources needed to use safer, we can lessen the burden on emergency medical services while at the same time engaging and supporting people who use drugs.
In this session, we hope that participants can recognize the need for essential harm-reduction services, understand the current support services that are available, identify the barriers to service expansion, and recognize the importance of harm-reduction advocacy.
Panelists Include:
Brandon Hool - MDHHS
Lamont Gore - UNIFIED HIV Health and Beyond
Dr. Robert Redwood