Harm Reduction Program

The Harm Reduction Program aims to keep our loved ones safe and offer change through minimizing harms.  Our Harm Reduction Team is available to provide education and deliver harm reduction supplies free of charge. The Land-Based Healing Fund is part of our holistic harm reduction approach and it provides opportunities to support our relatives struggling with problematic substance use to seek healing on the land and through cultural activities.

HARM REDUCTION IS: SAFETY, CARING, TRUTH, WISDOM, BRAVERY, LOVE

SCO has launched a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign focused on preventing and increasing awareness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs) and harm reduction. The campaign was informed by the voices of First Nation people with lived experience and harm reduction service organizations.

Harm reduction has become a major focus for SCO when it comes to delivering programs and services for our Nations. I am pleased to see us couple that mandate with the resources and expertise necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive, culturally relevant, and engaging campaign to help save lives.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels

Centered on strength-based messaging, the campaign focuses on love, acceptance and stigma reduction. Information will be shared on billboards, bus boards, ad space, printed materials and through social media. The campaign runs until December 2023.

Request support for harm reduction:

REQUEST SUPPORT FOR HARM REDUCTION:

SCO’s Harm Reduction Team can provide harm reduction supplies such as Fentanyl test strips, nasal Narcan, safer inhalation kits, clean needles, and safer sex supplies at no cost.  The Harm Reduction Team can also deliver education that can help the stigma associated with problematic substance use, healthy sexuality, and raise awareness around the importance of using a harm reduction approach. 

To make requests for education or for supplies:

• Call: The Harm Reduction Help Line at (431) 294-6022 (available Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
• Email: harmreduction@scoinc.mb.ca This email is available to make requests at any time, but responses back will be Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Why we created this program:

The Harm Reduction Program was created in response to the hundreds of years of colonial oppression through harmful structures, policies, and laws which resulted in us being disconnected from our lands, culture, medicines, ceremonies, and relations.  This has contributed to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, intergenerational trauma, including increased rates of substance use and a decline in mental wellness in all of our communities.

According to data released by Health Canada in December of 2022, more than 32,000 Canadians died of toxic drug overdoses since 2016. From January to March of 2023, 1,903 deaths occurred due to overdose. This is an average of 21 deaths per day and these losses are devastating to families and communities.  Together, we need and can do more.

What is harm reduction? 

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas. SCO’s harm reduction approach aims to keep loved ones who are impacted by substance use safe, offering love and support, minimizing the harms associated with substance use and supporting them on their healing journey.

Anishinaabe and Dakota harm reduction is based on truth, love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, and humility. It is strengths-based, destigmatized, and inclusive.

Guiding principles for harm reduction:

• Everyone is worthy of love and respect and has the right to be treated with dignity and kindness.
• People who use drugs decide what their goals are.
• Relationships and trust are nurtured so that people who use drugs are able to ask for help if they would like to stop.
• Quality of life improves when people who use drugs feel connected to community.
• If someone is not able to, or doesn’t want to stop using substances, let’s protect them while they use.

For more information:

• Call: The Harm Reduction Help Line at (431) 294-6022 (available Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
• Email: harmreduction@scoinc.mb.ca This email is available to make requests at any time, but responses back will be Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Resources