Harm reduction was created by and for people who use substances and is a health service and approach to care. It is based on acknowledging the dignity and humanity of people who use substances. Harm reduction saves lives by preventing the actual death of a person and reduces the risk of contracting an infectious disease. Harm reduction is about offering options without judgement that can help people. It includes (but is not limited to) stable housing, access to life-saving drugs like Naloxone (otherwise known as Narcan), substance testing kits that can detect an alteration of the supply, syringe exchange services that keep people from contracting infectious diseases, overdose prevention centers where trained professionals can reverse fatal overdoses and connect people to other resources including treatment, housing options, etc.

Nearly every state has enacted both Good Samaritan Laws and Naloxone Access Laws to help reduce overdose and death by overdose. Critics of these laws claim that they “enable people” to do drugs, that is not true. Drug use is a multifaceted phenomena. These laws enable people to continue living by mitigating or even stopping the harmful — and deadly — aspects of substance use. Although both of these laws vary by state, Good Samaritan Laws provide immunity to individuals who experience a drug overdose or persons who witness an overdose and seek help for the victim can no longer be prosecuted for possession of small amounts of drugs, paraphernalia, or underage drinking. Naloxone Access Laws allow laypeople are able to access, carry and administer naloxone to reverse the effects of an opioid/opiate overdose.