Join Pushing Limits as we explore the subject of harm reduction. Advocates of these practices believe that the government should provide services to assist those to do drugs in the safest way possible. These services may include needle exchange, overdose prevention sites, and the legalization of substances. These services have been shown to be effective. However, some politicians believe that people who use drugs shouldn’t have access to services like affordable housing until they stop using drugs.
Our guests include Alli Lazarus of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Shannon Knox, the Executive Director of the San Francisco Drug Users Union. They discuss the state of harm reduction in the city and beyond. Additionally, Alli who lives with a disability herself, talks about some of the challenges her clients with disabilities face, specifically whether attendants can assist people engaging in the use of drugs. Both of our guests give their takes on the issue of whether drug users should be considered disabled under the ADA as well.
This program is produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, and hosted and edited by Denny Daughters with production assistance from Jacob Stanton.
Useful Resources:
- San Francisco Drug Users Union
- Harm reduction-San Francisco AIDS Foundation
- A study about an overdose prevention site in San Francisco
- North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN)
- National Harm Reduction Coalition
