HOPEfull Conversations with Kari Eckert

Episode 29: Harm Reduction & Psychedelic Use

Episode Summary

Joining me today is Kristin Nash, founder of the William G. Nash Foundation working to foster harm reduction for students in crisis by facilitating honest discussion around the use of psychedelics. The foundation supports research, grants, and awareness of harm reduction approaches to improve college student safety. Correspondingly, the William G. Nash Foundation supports college student run businesses, especially those with a social impact, to expand and grow through giving grants.

Episode Notes

It is unrealistic to think that young people will completely refrain from trying alcohol, and/or other drugs during the life stage with the highest likelihood of experience-seeking and experimentation, their youth. Psychedelics present a paradox because of their potential therapeutic benefits for people with PTSD, depression and other mental health issues. A harm reduction approach discourages young people from using alcohol and other drugs, but it goes further, providing information to help them keep themselves and their peers safe if/when they encounter these substances.

An abstinence-only approach puts us in the position of having nothing to say to the young people we need to reach the most, and it prevents us from having conversations about how to reduce harm and stay safe. If we really want to minimize drug use and prevent drug abuse and drug problems among young people, we need a strategy that includes comprehensive education, one that puts safety first.

In addition to improving harm reduction skills and knowledge throughout the community -- among students, resident advisors, and staff -- harm reduction also means fostering help-seeking behaviors by promoting medical amnesty policies and it means proper training for the helpers who will respond to the call. First responders encountering adverse reactions to hallucinogens – or acute emotional crises, as the two can be indistinguishable in crisis -- need specialized training and de-escalation skills to keep students safe.

The William G. Nash Foundation works to facilitate honest discussion and close gaps in college campus safety by engaging in the following key activities:

Grantmaking to organizations and student groups working to reduce harm and introduce restorative justice on the college campus.
Partnering with like-minded organizations to raise awareness and create programming when needed to meet a goal.
Contribute to public discourse on harm reduction and psychedelic use in uncontrolled campus settings through legislative advocacy, media campaigns, opinion editorials, grey literature and peer-reviewed publications.
Work to advocate for reality-based substance use education and culture/policy change at institutions of higher learning and high schools across the country.

You can learn more about the William G Nash Foundation at: https://www.williamgnash.org

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com