This week’s episode features Tracie M. Gardner from National Black Harm Reduction Network and Brenda “Bre” Azanedo from Black Lives Matter Paterson. We chat with our guests about how Harm Reduction Saves Black Lives. Our guest are on a mission to help Black communities understand why harm reduction is necessary. As the icons in the picture above show many things we use everyday are actually harm reduction techniques, such as seat belts for example. We use them because if a person is driving seat belts can reduce injuries or harm if there is an accident. Though we have an episode on HIV/AIDS, we haven’t talked specifically about substance abuse.
When we have a family member, loved one, neighbor, or just someone in our community who is suffering, harm reduction encourages us to meet that person where they are and help them move forward without judgment.
Why Specifically Focus on Black Harm Reduction?
Through their work, Tracie and Bre encounter many white professionals who are in the harm reduction field. However, there were few specialists who were Black or who understood the history of criminalizing and stigmatizing black communities over drug use. Nor, did the understand the health and dietary needs of Black people. Enter National Black Harm Reduction Network with Tracie as their first Executive Director. Not only does the organization center the needs of Black folks with substance abuse disorders, but they also are providing mentorship and developing a curriculum to help train others who want to understand the work.
Working on the Ground
Bre is an activist who works on the ground. Black Lives Matter Paterson, under the leadership of Zellie Thomas, surveyed their community during the COVID crisis. It was apparent that the most vulnerable members of the community were left in limbo when aid organizations closed. In an effort to help meet the needs of a community the city abandoned, they started distributing condoms, Narcan and helps coordinate things like testing for HIV/AIDS. Initially, their work was not sanctioned by the state. But, in 2022, NJ passed a bill that permits an expansion of syringe exchange programs. The BLM harm reduction center celebrates its second anniversary this year. Their work shows that we don’t have to wait for the government to give us permission to help our own communities. We are the ones who can keep us safe.
Whether you have a loved one who has a substance abuse disorder or not, we can all learn something from Harm Reduction Saves Black Lives.
04/11/25