Les Harper harm reduction
At the heart of public health- and human rights-centred drug policy is harm reduction, which refers to policies, programmes, and practices that minimize negative health, social, and legal impacts of drug use. Les Harper is an Indigenous health promoter in Toronto who advocates and practices harm reduction not only to save lives, but also build community and provide hope for people experiencing dependant substance use.
Indigenous and Black communities have borne the brunt of unjust prohibitionist drug policies that have fuelled stigma and suffering for decades. His work, and harm reduction as a policy intervention, are key to saving lives during the overdose crisis.
