Because this is the way.

My Journey with Harm Reduction

I stepped into harm reduction work in 2015, and I haven’t looked back. Since then, it’s become more than just a professional focus, it is the lens through which I view all support work.

Too often, harm reduction gets flattened into images of needle exchanges or supervised consumption sites. Those are vital tools, but they’re not the whole story. Harm reduction is so much more. It’s a sacred act of relational accountability.

At its core, harm reduction means what it says: reducing harm. It moves us beyond shame, guilt, and rigid abstinence based models. It saves lives. It invites people into care, not punishment. It centers cultural safety, community connection, holistic healing, and trauma-informed flexibility.

At Cocahq N’Pisun we live and breathe harm reduction. We extend it beyond substance use into how we train, how we consult, and how we show up. Because relationships reduce harm. Emotional regulation reduces harm. Connection reduces harm. Community reduces harm.

This is the medicine. This is the work.

Healing is not always about fixing, its about coming back to balance. Let’s work together to find the balance and to build a future rooted in connection not control.

Don’t know if you’re ready? check out our Sharing Circle for some blog posts & free downloads.