it must be eliminated.

reducing harm is not enough,

Harm reduction is about
more than just surviving…
it’s about thriving!

Our Mission

The National Black Harm Reduction Network is dedicated to advancing harm reduction principles that optimize health and wellness for Black people who are disproportionately harmed by public health initiatives, the criminal legal system, and drug policies.

about nbhrn

The National Black Harm Reduction Network is rooted in the history and brilliance of Black-led movements that have always reimagined what freedom, self-determination, and equity means for Black folks.

We are a unified coalition of Black harm reductionists, advocates, and stakeholders working to advance harm reduction principles in Black communities.

We formed to preserve the history and legacy of Black harm reduction work while elevating and shaping the current and future national discourse around Black harm reduction

The Facts

It is not by accident that the face of opioid addiction in the media is most often a white family. This, despite the below facts...

213

PERCENT

…increase in overdose death rate for Black men from 2015-2020 — the largest increase experienced by any demographic group.

2

times

…increase in overdose death rate for Black women from 2015 to 2021, with a particularly pronounced rise among younger Black women.

33

PERCENT

7

TIMES

…higher overdose death rate for older Black men compared to older white men in 2020.

ADVOCACY + POLICY

Be the national voice advocating for Black-centered federal and state public health, criminal legal system, and drug policies.

TECHINICAL ASSISTANCE

Provide supportive, sustainable mentorship, workforce development, and TA to Black harm reductionists.

NETWORK BUILDING

Support regional networks of Black-led & Black-centered harm reduction initiatives.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE

Provide TA on substance use and intersecting issues to community-based organizations and government entities.

Featured
[PRESS RELEASE] National Black Harm Reduction Network Announces New Executive Director
NBHRN
[PRESS RELEASE] National Black Harm Reduction Network Announces New Executive Director
NBHRN
NBHRN
[CAMPAIGN] Start With Hope
NBHRN
[CAMPAIGN] Start With Hope
NBHRN
NBHRN
[VIDEO] A Talk with Joy Rucker
NBHRN
[VIDEO] A Talk with Joy Rucker
NBHRN
NBHRN
[ARTICLE] “Overdose Deaths Climb in Albany County”
NBHRN
[ARTICLE] “Overdose Deaths Climb in Albany County”
NBHRN
NBHRN
Black Harm Reduction Network at the National Harm Reduction Conference
NBHRN
Black Harm Reduction Network at the National Harm Reduction Conference
NBHRN
NBHRN

  • the history

    Among the most effective evidence-based approaches to addressing substance use is harm reduction, which is a ­­­­­­­set of policies, programs, and practices that prioritizes the mitigation of harms over criminalizing drug use and/or mandating substance use treatment or abstinence.

    Dig Deeper

  • today's conversation

    The urgency for a Black Harm Reduction analysis and strategy is especially acute, not only in light of escalating fatal overdose among Black people across our country and the disproportionate criminalization they face for drug use, but also the ongoing reckoning on race fueled by the police killings of Black individuals including Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, George Floyd, and Daunte Wright, the rise of movements to defund the police and reinvest in communities, the 2020 elections and intensifying white supremacist beliefs, and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on Black and brown communities.

    Check The Latest

  • black harm reduction

    While harm reduction principles have benefited millions of Americans, from the movement’s roots in the HIV/AIDS crisis to the overdose epidemic, the contributions and priorities of Black people have too often been misinterpreted and/or disregarded by white policymakers and communities.

    The Facts

Harm Reduction
for Black Communities

We advocate for policies that decriminalize drug use, support those struggling with addiction, and reduce the impacts of systemic racism in healthcare and criminal justice systems.

Our work focuses on empowering Black individuals, families, and communities to access resources, stay safe, and ultimately, stay alive.

To watch the full series of videos about the National Black Harm Reduction Network, click here.

    • Why are harm reduction and public health solutions predominantly extended to the white communities, which are depicted as the most vulnerable victims of the current opioid crisis?

    • How do we disrupt the white-dominated narrative in harm reduction?

    • Why are Black communities not considered in the development of harm reduction strategies?

    • What is an effective drug policy strategy that addresses the historical harms of state-run surveillance and policing which has grossly burdened Black communities?

    • How do we address the lack of visibility of Black people in recovery and how can we elevate their unique experiences?

    • How do we center and support the mobilization of people most affected by drug policy and drug use, including formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ communities, people who actively use drugs, and people in recovery?

    • What is Black harm reduction based recovery?

  • By building a robust Black Harm Reduction Network, we can answer these and other important questions and empower people at the center of these crises to foster real change and lead the nation toward equitable, evidence-based solutions.