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Black Harm Reduction Network (BHRN)

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The Black Harm Reduction Network (BHRN) is a partnership between the Legal Action Center (LAC), the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), and the National Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC). 1 The network aims to increase the number of Black people in power to have a Black-centered federal and state public health system, legal system, and drug policies. It supports the ideas that Black individuals are disproportionately criminalized for drug use, are targeted by police as a result of an increase in white supremacy, and were more negatively impacted by COVID-19 than other ethnic groups. The network promotes defunding the police and claims that only Black leaders can stop the increase of fatal drug overdoses by Black men. 2 3 4

History

The Black Harm Reduction Network was officially formed in 2022, based on an idea conceived by activist Imani Woods when the network’s members decided to legally form into a recognized entity. It was founded by Joy Rucker, an activist who has worked with harm reduction in the Black community for over 30 years. As of 2024, the group claimed to be in the process of receiving nonprofit status after securing funding and appointing its board of directors. 5 6

Partner Organizations

The Black Harm Reduction Network (BHRN) is a partnership between the Legal Action Center (LAC), the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), and the National Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC). 7  

Legal Action Center

The Legal Action Center (LAC) is a nonprofit law and policy organization which offers legal services, education, and policy advocacy to people suffering from addiction, HIV/AIDS, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The center supports the idea that systemic racism has caused mass incarceration and created a broken health care system. Like the Black Harm Reduction Network, LAC focuses on harm reduction efforts such as syringe exchange programs, safe consumption sites, taxpayer funded medications to treat addiction, and diversion to treatment instead of criminal consequences for non-violent drug-related offenses. LAC has sought increased coverage for addiction and mental health treatment through the Affordable Care Act. 8 9 10 11

Drug Policy Alliance

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is a nonprofit which advocates for drug decriminalization, policies which allow legal creation and distribution of all drugs, and spending government funds typically used for incarcerating drug dealers to instead train those individuals to work secure and high paying jobs. Like the Black Harm Reduction Network, DPA proposes there should be policies in place that redirect drug users to health centers which allow them to safely use drugs or to find treatment options instead of being arrested. DPA suggests that drug legalization and decriminalization efforts will advance racial equity and justice. 12 13 14 15 16

National Harm Reduction Coalition

The National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC) is a nonprofit that advocates for a decrease in drug policing, an increase in taxpayer-funded housing programs, and an increase in taxpayer-funded drug treatment programs. Like the Black Harm Reduction Network, NHRC advocates for clean syringe programs which use tax dollars to supply drug users with clean syringes to reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV. Like the Legal Action Center, NHRC advocates for safe consumption sites. Based on the left-wing theory of intersectionality, NHRC also suggests that drug use can result from other issues, such as racial inequity, anti-LGBT sentiment, and insufficient government health care and housing programs. 17 18 19 20

References

  1. “Black Harm Reduction Network.” Legal Action Center. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.lac.org/major-project/black-harm-reduction-network.
  2. “Black Harm Reduction Network.” Legal Action Center. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.lac.org/major-project/black-harm-reduction-network.
  3. Ballantyne, Brittany. “Black History Month: Black Harm Reduction Network Spotlight.” National Harm Reduction Coalition, February 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/blog/black-history-month-black-harm-reduction-network-spotlight/.
  4. Ballantyne, Brittany. “Beyond Black History Month Spotlight: Joy Rucker.” National Harm Reduction Coalition, March 12, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/blog/beyond-black-history-month-spotlight-joy-rucker/.
  5. Ballantyne, Brittany. “Black History Month: Black Harm Reduction Network Spotlight.” National Harm Reduction Coalition, February 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/blog/black-history-month-black-harm-reduction-network-spotlight/.
  6. Ballantyne, Brittany. “Beyond Black History Month Spotlight: Joy Rucker.” National Harm Reduction Coalition, March 12, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/blog/beyond-black-history-month-spotlight-joy-rucker/.
  7. “Black Harm Reduction Network.” Legal Action Center. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.lac.org/major-project/black-harm-reduction-network.
  8. “Harm Reduction.” Legal Action Center. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.lac.org/work/priorities/building-health-equity/harm-reduction.
  9.  Legal Action Center, Form 990, 2022, Part III Section 1.
  10. Legal Action Center, Form 990, 2022, Part III Section 4a.
  11. Legal Action Center, Form 990, 2022, Schedule O.
  12. “Community Reinvestment (from Drug Prohibition).” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://drugpolicy.org/issue/community-reinvestment/.
  13. “Overdose Prevention Centers (Opcs).” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://drugpolicy.org/issue/overdose-prevention-centers-opcs/.
  14. “All Drug Legal Regulation and Safer Supply.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://drugpolicy.org/issue/legal-regulation-safer-supply/.
  15. “Rethinking and Reducing Punishment for People in the Drug Trade.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://drugpolicy.org/issue/rethinking-and-reducing-punishment-of-people-in-the-drug-trade/.
  16. “Decriminalize Drugs, Invest in Health.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://drugpolicy.org/issue/decriminalize-drugs-invest-in-health-services/.
  17. “Overdose Rrevention Work.” National Harm Reduction Coalition. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/our-work/overdose-prevention/.
  18. “Syringe Access Work.” National Harm Reduction Coalition. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/our-work/syringe-access-implementation/.
  19. “Harm Reduction Intersects.” National Harm Reduction Coalition. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/resource-center/harm-reduction-intersects/.
  20. “Policy & Advocacy Work.” National Harm Reduction Coalition. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://harmreduction.org/our-work/policy-advocacy/.
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