Substance Use: Harm Reduction
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The Wisconsin Substance Use Summit features two dynamic keynote presentations and 48 engaging workshops focused on building healthy communities through substance use primary prevention, overdose prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services. Join us in Green Bay or virtually August 5-6, 2026, for this first-of-its-kind learning and networking event. CEHs are available. View the agenda and register today!
Improving outcomes for people who use drugs in Wisconsin
Every life lost to an overdose is preventable.
Harm reduction is an evidence-based public health approach to prevent overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases, like HIV and hepatitis C. Harm reduction focuses on empowering people who use drugs to make safer choices to prevent negative health outcomes.
People practice harm reduction every day to keep themselves safe. Wearing seatbelts and helmets, driving the speed limit, and exercising are everyday examples of harm reduction.
Harm reduction does not enable, condone, or endorse drug use or high-risk behaviors. Harm reduction addresses and mitigates the harms associated with substance use by providing life-saving overdose and infectious disease prevention and response services.
What do harm reduction programs look like?
Harm reduction programs provide life-saving overdose and infectious disease prevention services that improve health outcomes and connect people to resources. Harm reduction programs include a range of services:
Overdose education and naloxone distribution
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug like fentanyl, heroin, or prescription pain medications. Naloxone is widely available in Wisconsin.
Drug checking technology
Fentanyl and xylazines test strips indicate when either substance is present in a drug supply, allowing people who use drugs to make better-informed decisions and use more safely.
Harm reduction mobile units
Wisconsin's Harm Reduction Response Team (HRRT) seeks to enhance and expand harm reduction services in Wisconsin to reduce injection-related infections and opioid-related deaths.
Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Centers (HRTACs)
HRTACs provide support to newly formed harm reduction organizations who connect people who use drugs (PWUD) with resources.
Substance use statistics
DHS collects and analyzes data to identify where communities are struggling, help tailor our response, and show improvements in health and wellness.
Benefits of harm reduction programs
Harm reduction programs keep communities safe by providing life-saving resources and education to prevent overdose and the spread of infectious diseases. Harm reduction programs often distribute naloxone, a medicine that reverses overdoses, and health care supplies to keep people who use drugs alive.
People accessing harm reduction programs receive referrals to mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and medical care. In fact, people who access harm reduction programs are five times more likely to enter treatment for substance use disorder. Harm reduction programs also help prevent the spread of infectious diseases by offering testing and treatment services. Harm reduction programs often work with law enforcement to provide them with tools to safely respond to calls involving substance use.
Training
Safety First: Comprehensive, Harm-Reduction Based, Drug Intervention Curriculum for high school students