Training Treatment Court Teams: Navigating Harm Reduction in Drug Courts

Harm reduction is broadly defined as a set of strategies to promote public health by reducing negative consequences associated with drug use on individuals, their families, and the community. It aims to reduce risks and improve quality of life for people experiencing a substance use disorder. Within the treatment court setting, there is a place for harm reduction principles and approaches; however, what this looks like in practice may vary across treatment courts and treatment court team members.  

Building on our previous webinar, Harm Reduction Practices in Treatment Courts: What Fits and What Doesn’t, this webinar will discuss ways to apply what fits in the treatment court setting and how each team member can play a role in supporting harm reduction. Attendees will receive guidance on ways to implement harm reduction measures without compromising the fundamental principles of drug courts and with respect to the role that each team member plays on the treatment court team.  

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this webinar, participants should be able to:  

• Develop an expanded understanding of harm-reduction practices and how they relate to the recently updated Adult Drug Court Best Practices Standards. 

• Discuss how treatment court team members may have different roles in implementing harm reduction measures. 

• Share examples of how treatment courts have successfully implemented harm reduction practices into their operations.