Women-Centred Harm Reduction

Harm reduction and overdose prevention spaces that welcome, honour and support women from WHAI's priority populations were highlighted throughout the consultation process.

About Women-Centred Harm Reduction

Women-centred harm reduction was described as programming and spaces for women who use drugs to support each other with information about safer drug use practices, safer places for using drugs, overdose prevention practices, and access to a safer drug supply in ways that foster increased safety, economic stability, and improved health outcomes.

Intersecting needs were also identified, including:

  • Strategies for navigating relationships
  • Supports related to pregnancy and parenting
  • The prevention of gender-based violence and harassment in spaces where services are delivered (including harm reduction spaces)
  • Ways of addressing experiences of criminalization, including that of sex work

Women noted opportunities to grow safe, non-judgmental, culturally inclusive, harm reduction services where workers practice trauma-informed care, that are reflective of the diverse lived experiences of drug use, and are representative of Indigenous, Black, Brown, and other racialized communities.

whai-harm-reduction-women-who-use-drugs-icon
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42% of those who participated in WHAI’s community consultations identified as people who use drugs or substances (n=501).1
whai-harm-reduction-community-capacity-icon
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75% of community workers who participated in WHAI’s community consultations work in harm reduction, demonstrating the importance of WHAI’s community capacity building work with the harm reduction sector (n=317).2

What is WHAI doing?

Moving this work forward, WHAI’s work includes:

  • Collaborating with local harm reduction teams and partner organizations to enhance spaces where women who use drugs/substances can safely access service and connect with each other
  • Drawing on WHAI’s Women and Harm Reduction Toolkit and other resources to support community capacity building work and amplify women’s voices and include their expertise throughout all aspects of the work
  • Working with women who use drugs/substances to facilitate community education and enhance connections to safe, trauma-aware, culturally inclusive care

Featured Resources From WHAI

Red cover with orange poppies, titled "Women and Harm Reduction in Ontario: A Capacity Building Toolkit" (2020).
Toolkit/Guide, WHAI Original Resource
Toolkit/Guide, WHAI Original Resource

Women and Harm Reduction in Ontario: A Capacity Building Toolkit

Feb 25, 2020
Floral design with text on overdose awareness, emphasizing women's impact and solidarity against overdose.
Poster, WHAI Original Resource
Poster, WHAI Original Resource

International Overdose Awareness Day Poster – 2022

Aug 5, 2022
Three hands untangle a white thread web; text reads "HOLDING AND UNTANGLING, National Survey Report.
Report
Report

National Survey Report: Holding & Untangling – Women and Gender Inclusive Overdose Prevention

May 3, 2024
Logo of the Canadian Mental Health Association with a green and blue icon and the text "Mental health for all.
Report
Report

Access to and Safety for Women at Supervised Consumption Services

May 6, 2021
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