Drug User Health in a Syndemic Environment
DC Engage’s annual Harm Reduction Conference brings together harm reductionists, community members, and experts to discuss the latest practices, techniques, and important issues in the harm reduction community.
Focusing on the theme of Justice and Equity for Community Health, this day-long conference on June 29, 2023 featured expert speakers and panels covering the national and local landscape of harm reduction, language and social justice, retention in care, drug user health in a syndemic environment, and other topics.
This session addresses challenges related to living and accessing services in a syndemic environment. It covers those strategies that ensure individuals are able to address co-morbidities. Additionally, the session addresses strategies to prioritize health needs and expected outcomes from a drug user health perspective. The complex intersectionality of the law and harm reduction efforts are discussed.
Speakers:
Irene Kuo, GWU Milken Institute School of Public Health
George Kerr III, CEO, G III Associates
Leslie Demus, Unity Health Care
Other Related Trainings
Social Justice/Language Justice
This plenary focuses on how to eliminate and replace stigmatizing language and negative bias while also using person-first language within communities of people who struggle with substance use disorder to increase access to services and successful retention in care.
National Perspectives on Harm Reduction and Community Health
This session describes the impact of drug use from a national and local perspective, examines the social impact of drug use on communities, and identifies national and local harm reduction activities. Surveillance data will be presented to highlight national and local trends.
All four 2023 Harm Reduction Conference training sessions must be taken to receive a total of 3.25 credit hours.
