Name: Countering Criminalization with Public Health Vision
Start: 2025-01-14T17:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-01-14T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Vital Strategies

Countering Criminalization with Public Health Vision

Experts will speak on scaling up lifesaving harm reduction services to advance health equity.
About this Event

Across the United States, the compounding crises of homelessness, drug overdose and mental illness are more visible than ever. Last year, the U.S. recorded the highest number of unhoused people in two decades, driven by a housing market that’s increasingly out of reach for many. At the same time, the mental health crisis, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to deepen, while the proliferation of potent synthetics in the illicit drug supply has skyrocketed overdose deaths. These crises are overwhelming our communities, pushing some people to the brink and raising widespread concerns about public safety and disorder.

Despite the clear urgency of these issues, politicians and media are championing punitive measures for substance use—like J*il sentences and forced treatment—that have proven ineffective in the past. This rhetoric is fueling a backlash against the harm reduction strategies that are saving lives, conflating these with systemic problems of underinvestment in preventive health and affordable housing. It’s critical that we reframe the conversation and bring attention to the approaches that can truly make a difference.

The way forward is grounded in evidence, compassion and common sense. Public health experts and advocates are calling for a rapid expansion of preventive health and social services, alongside long-term investments in housing, mental health care and social support. These strategies offer a real chance to guide people from crisis to stability and well-being.

Join us for this essential discussion, where we’ll examine the forces fueling opposition to harm reduction, the role of media and politics in shaping public opinion, and how we can reframe the narrative to build a healthier, more compassionate future. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation!

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