Toolkits & Infosheets Toolkits Harm Reduction

Overarching Recommendations for Harm Reduction on Campus

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Section: 13 of 38
Checkmark Adopt a whole campus approach when educating, creating programs, and implementing policies related to harm reduction.

  • Education and collaboration should not be limited to health services, but include residence staff, library staff, janitors, campus police, etc. This ensures greater capacity building.
Checkmark Ensure harm reduction practices are informed with EDIAA, trauma informed, and anti-oppressive lenses.

  • This approach accounts for intersectionality within a diverse community of students. It strives for all students to feel supported and continue to feel safe in seeking supports and existing within campus as they are. For instance, promoting inclusive languages and practices that do not further stigmatize the student or ensuring considerations for the needs of neurodiverse students.
Checkmark Embed harm reduction principles within different levels of services and stages of student life to prevent harms, support students experiencing harms, and caring for students after harmful experiences.

  • Different periods may include orientation week, exam periods, holidays, and post-graduation
  • Different services may mean during health promotion, peer-support, or counselling
  • Adopt a “Good Samaritan” policy that encourage reporting of emergencies without fear of punitive repercussions
Checkmark Center student voice and work in collaboration when determining the supports they would like to see (See our Student Engagement Toolkit and Engagement & Co-design webinar)

  • Utilize peer-based supports especially within equity deserving groups that may feel less comfortable seeking support or deal with greater amounts of stigma
  • Use student voices and students with lived experiences to inform programs on campus and continuously evolve with their feedback. This also helps with being informed on current trends, whether it pertains to technology, social media, or substance use.
Checkmark Create partnerships with community organizations and utilize their services to build capacity when supporting students

Section: 13 of 38

Overarching Recommendations for Harm Reduction on Campus

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