A Harm Reduction Approach to Psychiatric Drugs (Vermont Only)

An interactive workshop about taking a harm reduction approach to psychiatric drugs.
About this Event

Training schedule: Monday 9/23/24 and Wednesday 9/25/24 , 12:30-4:30pm each day (this is a two-day workshop)

As peer support workers, we are sometimes discouraged from having conversations about psych drugs and are encouraged to leave it to the medical professionals. While we cannot give medical advice or replace the role of doctors, we can offer supportive conversations that explore others’—and our own—relationship to psych drugs. We might also be in a position to advocate with prescribers, friends, and family members to support someone’s self-determination.

This two-day participatory workshop introduces a model for thinking about psych drugs as neither good nor bad, but as chemicals that can have benefits and also come with risks. A harm reduction approach meets people where they’re at without judgment, supports flexibility, and honors neurodiversity. Through sharing personal stories and opening up dialogue, we can educate and support each other to make more informed choices with less harm.

This training will be held virtually via zoom. We recommend that folks join via laptop, desktop, or tablet as smart phones are harder to navigate for this kind of interactive training.

This training is for folks who live and/or work in Vermont. This training is free of charge to participants and sponsored by Vermont's Peer Workforce Development Initiative.

Facilitators: Calvin Moen (he/him) and J Helms (they/them)

Contact [email protected] with any questions.