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Focus Session

Concurrent Sessions #5

Harm Reduction Implementation in a Rural Jail

Saturday, April 6, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM  
Incarcerated people have a much higher rate of substance use disorder and subsequent risk of lethal overdose upon release. Although nationwide harm reduction efforts are becoming more mainstream, harm reduction provision for incarcerated people is enormously lacking.
This presentation discusses the state of substance use in incarcerated people, and introduces a test case of a rural county jail harm reduction program co-presented with the jail commander and peer support specialist who helped with its development.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:
  • Discover the significance of substance use and overdose deaths in incarcerated and recently incarcerated individuals.
  • Investigate if and how harm reduction education and methods are provided to jail staff and inmates.
  • Explore the implementation of a rural county jail harm reduction program as discussed with the implementing addiction medicine physician, jail commander, and peer support specialist.