Community Harm Reduction Guide

Whether you are a first-time advocate or an experienced peer educator, this guide gives you the language, evidence, and practical tools to discuss harm reduction confidently in your community. Read it from cover to cover, or jump directly to the section most relevant to your work. Every section includes key messages you can share with peers, policymakers, and the public.

Africa

Africa hosts the world's largest population of young people, and drug use patterns are diverse and rapidly changing. Cannabis (known locally as dagga, weed, or ganja) remains the most widely used substance. Methamphetamine (tik/crystal meth) is a growing crisis particularly in Southern Africa. Tramadol misuse is a significant public health concern in West and East Africa. Nyaope/whoonga, a mixture of low-grade heroin, antiretroviral drugs, and other adulterants, is devastating youth communities in South Africa. Khat (miraa, qat) is widely used in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Drug laws across most of sub-Saharan Africa remain highly punitive, and harm reduction services are scarce. South Africa has the continent's most developed harm reduction infrastructure. HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs is critically high in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. Naloxone is not widely available and must often be sourced through harm reduction organisations. Emergency numbers: South Africa 10177 (ambulance) / 10111 (police); Kenya 999 or 112; Nigeria 112; Uganda 999.

Asia

Asia has some of the world's most punitive drug laws and is simultaneously home to major opioid trafficking routes (the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent). Methamphetamine, known as yaba in Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and shabu or ice in the Philippines and Indonesia, is the dominant illicit drug across South and Southeast Asia. Heroin use remains significant in parts of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Mekong sub-region. Death penalties for drug trafficking remain in force in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. Compulsory drug detention centres (CDDCs), where people are held and forced to work under the guise of "rehabilitation" without medical treatment, operate across Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and China, and violate international human rights law. Despite this, harm reduction programmes exist in India, Thailand, Bangladesh, and parts of Indonesia. People who inject drugs in Southeast and South Asia have among the highest HIV rates globally. Emergency numbers: India 112; Thailand 1669; Philippines 911; Indonesia 119; Malaysia 999.

Oceania

Australia and New Zealand lead the region in harm reduction policy and infrastructure. Australia pioneered needle and syringe programmes as early as 1986, and Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC), opened in 1999, is among the longest-running supervised consumption facilities in the world. Naloxone is available over the counter at Australian pharmacies without a prescription, making it a strong advocacy model for other regions. Methamphetamine (ice) is a major concern across Australia and Pacific Island nations. Pacific Island nations, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu, have very limited harm reduction infrastructure and high rates of alcohol-related harm and tobacco use. Drug laws in the Pacific are generally punitive, with limited diversion options. New Zealand's drug checking services (legalised in 2021 for festivals) represent a world-leading innovation. Emergency numbers: Australia 000; New Zealand 111; Papua New Guinea 110.

Europe

Western and Southern Europe have some of the most progressive harm reduction policies globally. Drug consumption rooms operate in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, and Denmark. Portugal's 2001 decriminalisation of personal drug use for all substances, combined with investment in health services, is the world's most studied drug policy reform. Switzerland operates heroin-assisted treatment (HAT), and Germany partially legalised cannabis in 2024. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA, formerly EMCDDA) coordinates evidence and policy across the EU. Eastern Europe tells a starkly different story: Russia bans both opioid agonist therapy and needle exchanges, driving one of the world's worst HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs. Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe, fuelling major advocacy for a pilot supervised drug consumption facility in Glasgow. Advocates in Eastern Europe face hostile legal environments, while those in Western Europe can leverage established policy frameworks and harm reduction networks. Emergency numbers: EU standard 112; UK 999; Russia 103 (ambulance).

It is rooted in respect, dignity, and the understanding that people who use drugs are full members of our communities who deserve care and support. Harm reduction does not promote drug use. It acknowledges that drug use exists in every society and seeks to minimise its risks while people receive the support they need to make informed choices about their own health and wellbeing.

• Pragmatism: Drug use is a reality in all societies. Harm reduction responds to this reality rather than ignoring or moralising it.
• Humanistic values: People who use drugs deserve respect, dignity, and non-judgmental care, without conditions attached.
• Focus on harms, not drugs: The primary focus is reducing harm, to individuals, families, and communities, not eliminating drug use itself.
• Hierarchy of goals: Any positive change matters. Safer use is valued even when abstinence is not achievable or desired.
• Autonomy and self-determination: People have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies and health.
• Nothing about us without us: People with lived experience of drug use must be central to designing, delivering, and evaluating harm reduction programmes.
• Non-judgement: Effective harm reduction removes barriers such as shame, stigma, and criminalisation that prevent people from seeking help.
• Equity and inclusion: Harm reduction services must be accessible to all, with special attention to marginalised and criminalised communities.

Advocates must understand the human rights foundations of this work. Multiple international human rights instruments protect the rights of people who use drugs.

The Right to Health (Article 12, ICESCR)

States must ensure the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for all people, including people who use drugs. This includes access to harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes, opioid substitution therapy, and naloxone without discrimination.

The Right to Life

Overdose is preventable. Denying access to naloxone or supervised consumption services is a preventable cause of death, a violation of the right to life guaranteed under international law.

Freedom from Torture and Inhuman Treatment

Forced rehabilitation, compulsory drug detention centres, and physical punishment of people who use drugs can constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under international human rights law.

The Right to Privacy and Autonomy

Adults have the right to make informed decisions about what they put into their own bodies. Criminalising personal drug use infringes on the right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

Stigma, both self-stigma and structural stigma, is one of the most powerful barriers to healthcare access for people who use drugs. It manifests as social stigma (negative attitudes from family, peers, and communities), healthcare stigma (discriminatory treatment by medical professionals), legal stigma (criminalisation that deters help-seeking), and institutional stigma (policies that exclude people who use drugs from employment, housing, and social services).

Young people who use drugs have the same rights as all people who use drugs. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recognises children and young people's right to health, to access information, and to participate in decisions that affect their lives, including drug policy decisions.

• Young people should have access to age-appropriate, accurate harm reduction information
• Youth-led programmes that include peers with lived experience are more effective and more rights-respecting
• Zero-tolerance school policies that criminalise drug use often increase harm without improving outcomes

Africa

The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul Charter) guarantees the right to health and prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, rights violated when people who use drugs are denied care, imprisoned for personal use, or subjected to forced "rehabilitation". The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has called on states to treat drug use as a health matter. Most African constitutions also include rights to dignity and healthcare that can be used to challenge punitive drug laws in domestic courts. South Africa's Constitutional Court has recognised the right to privacy in personal drug use decisions.

Asia

Asia has some of the gravest human rights violations connected to drug policy globally. Compulsory drug detention centres (CDDCs) in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar deprive people of liberty without due process and deny medical treatment, constituting torture under international law. Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' "war on drugs" (2016-2022) claimed thousands of lives and were condemned by the UN Human Rights Council. ASEAN's 2015 Consensus and individual national constitutions contain health and dignity provisions that advocates can invoke, though enforcement is severely limited. Advocates should document abuses and engage with UN Special Rapporteurs.

Oceania

Australia and New Zealand have robust domestic human rights frameworks and have ratified major UN human rights treaties. The Australian Human Rights Commission and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission both recognise health as a human right. Drug-related human rights violations in the Pacific Islands are more commonly driven by lack of services and resources than by deliberate state repression, though criminalisation still prevents help-seeking. Advocates can draw on Australia's model of harm reduction as a right-to-health imperative when lobbying Pacific governments.

Europe

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), enforced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), provides strong protections, including Article 2 (right to life), Article 3 (prohibition of torture), and Article 8 (right to private life), that have been used in cases relating to drug policy and health. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights applies across EU member states. The ECtHR has ruled against forced treatment of people who use drugs. Advocates in Eastern Europe can use the ECHR system to challenge abusive practices even where domestic courts are inaccessible.

They draw on epidemiology, social determinants of health, and community-based interventions to understand and reduce drug-related harm at scale.

• Poverty and inequality: economic marginalisation increases vulnerability to problematic drug use and reduces access to care
• Housing instability: homelessness is strongly linked to higher overdose risk
• Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): many people who develop problematic drug use have experienced trauma
• Racism and colonialism: historic and ongoing structural racism shapes who is criminalised for drug use and who accesses care
• Gender-based violence: women and gender-diverse people often use drugs in contexts of violence and coercion

Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSPs)

Provide sterile injection equipment to people who inject drugs, dramatically reducing transmission of blood-borne viruses including HIV and Hepatitis C. They also serve as a gateway to other health services.

Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)

Methadone and buprenorphine are evidence-based medicines used to treat opioid dependence. OAT reduces overdose mortality, criminal involvement, and HIV risk, while improving quality of life.

Drug Checking Services

These services test drug samples for unknown or dangerous adulterants (e.g. fentanyl in stimulants). Real-time alerts allow people to make informed decisions and avoid potentially fatal doses.

Supervised Consumption Services (SCS)

SCS (also called safe injection sites or drug consumption rooms) provide hygienic, supervised spaces where people can use pre-obtained drugs under medical supervision. Zero overdose deaths have been recorded at any officially supervised consumption facility worldwide.

Peer Support Programmes

People with lived experience of drug use are trained as peer workers, trusted, relatable, and uniquely effective at reaching communities that may avoid formal health services.

• 50%+ reduction in HIV transmission among people who inject drugs through NSPs
• No. 1: opioid agonist therapy is the most effective treatment for opioid dependence
• 0 overdose deaths recorded at any officially supervised consumption facility globally

Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSPs)

NSPs are associated with significant reductions in HIV incidence among people who inject drugs. They do not increase drug use rates in surrounding communities. They serve as a critical entry point into healthcare, housing, and social services. Cost-effectiveness analyses consistently show NSPs save public health expenditure.

Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)

Significantly reduces overdose mortality during and after treatment. Reduces illicit opioid use, drug-related crime, and HIV risk behaviours. Improves social functioning, employment, and quality of life. The World Health Organization lists methadone and buprenorphine on its Essential Medicines List.

Naloxone Distribution

Community-based naloxone programmes have saved tens of thousands of lives globally. Peer distribution models are effective and reach people in overdose contexts before emergency services. No evidence that naloxone availability encourages increased drug use.

Drug Decriminalisation

Portugal's 2001 decriminalisation model resulted in reduced HIV infections, reduced drug-related deaths, and increased treatment uptake, with no significant increase in overall drug use rates. Multiple jurisdictions (Czech Republic, Norway, parts of Australia and the United States) have implemented decriminalisation with broadly positive public health outcomes.

Evidence from Africa

NSP programmes in Kenya and Tanzania have demonstrated meaningful reductions in HIV risk behaviour among people who inject drugs. South Africa's harm reduction services, including those run by SANPUD and community organisations in Cape Town and Johannesburg, show that peer-led outreach effectively reaches people who would not otherwise access care. Evidence from the region consistently shows that criminalisation, not drug use itself, is the primary driver of HIV transmission: people avoid health services for fear of arrest, and police confiscation of sterile equipment forces sharing of needles. Advocacy in Africa must challenge the myth that harm reduction is a "Western concept", it is a proven, rights-based, community response that fits diverse cultural contexts.

Evidence from Asia

India's National AIDS Control Programme has supported NSPs and OAT since the 2000s, demonstrating reduced HIV incidence among people who inject drugs in high-burden states such as Manipur and Nagaland. Thailand's harm reduction programmes, including methadone clinics and peer outreach, have shown significant reductions in HIV risk among people who use drugs. Evidence from across Asia consistently shows that compulsory drug detention centres do not reduce drug use, relapse rates after release are very high, and these facilities drive HIV transmission through forced needle sharing. No credible evidence supports CDDCs as an effective public health intervention; abundant evidence condemns them.

Evidence from Oceania

Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) has recorded zero overdose deaths since it opened in 1999 while managing tens of thousands of visits. Australia's NSP programmes, established in 1986, are credited with preventing an estimated 32,000 HIV infections and 5,000 Hepatitis C infections annually. New Zealand's drug checking services, legalised at licensed events in 2021, represent world-leading evidence for the public health value of real-time drug composition alerts. Naloxone's over-the-counter availability in Australian pharmacies has expanded community access significantly and provides a clear advocacy model for other regions.

Evidence from Europe

Portugal's data since 2001 is unambiguous: drug-related HIV infections fell by more than 95%, drug-induced deaths fell dramatically, and drug use rates did not increase, remaining below the European average. Switzerland's heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) programme has decades of evidence showing reduced crime, improved health, and high retention. Drug consumption rooms across 13 European countries have collectively recorded zero overdose deaths on-site. In Scotland, the drug death crisis, the worst in Europe, demonstrates the lethal consequences of punitive policies combined with inadequate harm reduction investment, providing advocates with a powerful case for urgent action.

An overdose occurs when a person consumes more of a substance, or a combination of substances, than their body can safely process. Different drugs carry different overdose risks and require different responses.

Opioid overdose: opioids (heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone) are the substances most commonly associated with fatal overdose. An opioid overdose causes breathing to slow or stop entirely. Signs of opioid overdose (the "3 Ps"): pinpoint pupils (very small, even in dim light), pale/blue/grey skin, especially around lips and fingertips (cyanosis), passing out / unresponsive (slow, gurgling, or stopped breathing).

• Stimulant overdose signs: racing or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• High body temperature (hyperthermia) and heavy sweating
• Chest pain
• Seizures
• Stroke-like symptoms (sudden confusion, weakness on one side)

Africa: Key Substances

Nyaope/Whoonga (South Africa): a highly addictive mixture typically containing low-grade heroin, antiretroviral medications (often stolen), and adulterants such as rat poison or pool cleaner. Overdose risk is high and unpredictable due to unknown composition. Tramadol (West & East Africa): a prescription opioid widely misused across Nigeria, Ghana, and East Africa. High-dose tablets (250mg+) are common. Methamphetamine / Tik (Southern Africa): smoked crystal meth common in Western Cape and spreading. Stimulant overdose risk, hyperthermia, cardiac events, psychosis. Khat/Miraa (East Africa & Horn): stimulant leaves chewed widely in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia. Rarely fatal alone but significant cardiovascular and mental health risks with heavy use.

Asia: Key Substances

Methamphetamine, Yaba (Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh) / Shabu/Ice (Philippines, Indonesia): dominant illicit drug across South and Southeast Asia. Stimulant overdose (hyperthermia, cardiac arrest, psychosis) is the primary risk. Heroin (South Asia, Central Asia, Mekong): injected or smoked. Opioid overdose response applies, naloxone is effective. Kratom (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia): a plant-based substance with opioid-like effects at high doses. Can cause respiratory depression. Pharmaceutical opioids (India, Pakistan): tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups, and diverted prescription opioids are widely misused.

Oceania: Key Substances

Methamphetamine / Ice (Australia & Pacific): the dominant drug of concern in Australia and increasingly in Pacific Island nations. Heroin / Fentanyl (Australia): opioid use remains significant in Australia. Fentanyl contamination of other drugs has been detected. MDMA/Ecstasy (Australia & NZ): high-risk at festivals and events. Drug checking services now legally available at licensed events in New Zealand and increasingly in Australia.

Europe: Key Substances

Heroin / Fentanyl analogues (across Europe): opioid use remains the primary driver of drug-related deaths in most European countries. Novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) and nitazenes are increasingly detected in heroin supplies, raising overdose lethality, especially in the UK and Eastern Europe. Cocaine / Crack (Western Europe): stimulant use is widespread. Levamisole contamination (an immune suppressant) is common. New Psychoactive Substances / NPS (EU-wide): designer drugs including synthetic cannabinoids (Spice), cathinones (bath salts), and novel benzodiazepines circulate widely. GHB/GBL (UK, Netherlands, Germany): narrow margin between recreational and overdose dose. No reversal agent exists.

1. 1
   Never use alone

   Have a trusted person present or use a phone-based check-in service (e.g. Never Use Alone hotlines where available).

2. 2
   Start low, go slow

   Test a small amount before taking a full dose, especially with a new batch, supplier, or after a break in use.

3. 3
   Know your tolerance

   Tolerance drops rapidly after periods of non-use (e.g. after incarceration, hospitalisation, or treatment).

4. 4
   Avoid mixing substances

   Combining drugs, especially opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines, sharply increases overdose risk.

5. 5
   Use drug checking services

   Test your drugs for fentanyl and other dangerous adulterants where available.

6. 6
   Carry naloxone

   If opioids are involved, having naloxone on hand is the most direct life-saving measure (see Section 06).

7. 7
   Know the signs and response

   Educate yourself and those around you on overdose recognition and first response.

8. 8
   Advocate for Good Samaritan laws

   Legal protections for people who call emergency services during an overdose save lives, advocate for them in your jurisdiction.

Opioids cause overdose by binding to receptors in the brain that control breathing. Naloxone rapidly displaces opioids from these receptors, restoring normal breathing within 2-5 minutes. The effect of naloxone lasts 30-90 minutes, shorter than many opioids, which is why re-dosing and emergency services are still essential.

1. 1
   Try to wake the person

   Call their name, rub your knuckles on their sternum. If unresponsive and breathing is slow or stopped, act immediately.

2. 2
   Call emergency services

   112/911/10177 or local equivalent. Do this while preparing naloxone. Tell them you suspect an opioid overdose.

3. 3
   Administer naloxone

   Nasal spray: insert into one nostril, press firmly. Auto-injector: press against outer thigh, hold. Injectable: draw up dose, inject into upper arm or outer thigh muscle.

4. 4
   Give rescue breaths

   One breath every 5 seconds, if the person is not breathing and you are trained to do so.

5. 5
   Wait 2-3 minutes

   If no response, administer a second dose of naloxone. Repeat every 2-3 minutes until response or emergency services arrive.

6. 6
   Place in recovery position once breathing resumes

   The person may wake up agitated or in withdrawal, reassure them calmly. Do not leave them alone. Naloxone wears off before many opioids, they may re-enter overdose without medical monitoring.

• Where to access naloxone: harm reduction programmes and needle exchange services
• Community pharmacies (over-the-counter in many countries)
• Health clinics and hospitals
• Some SSDP chapters and peer support organisations distribute naloxone directly
• National helplines and overdose prevention organisations (see Section 08)

• Never use alone. Always have a trusted person present who knows what to do in an emergency.
• Start low, go slow. Especially with a new batch, new supply, or after any break in use.
• Test before you use. Drug checking services and fentanyl test strips can detect dangerous adulterants.
• Avoid mixing. Combining substances dramatically increases the risk of overdose and serious adverse effects.
• Know your health status. Existing health conditions (heart, liver, mental health) affect drug risks.
• Stay hydrated, but not over-hydrated. Drink water regularly when using stimulants; do not overdrink with MDMA.
• Use in a safe environment. Avoid using in unsafe, isolated, or unfamiliar places.
• Have emergency contacts ready. Know your local emergency number and the nearest health service.

Opioids (Heroin, Fentanyl, Morphine, Codeine, Oxycodone)

Never use alone, opioid overdose can happen within minutes. If injecting, always use sterile equipment (needles, syringes, water, swabs). Be aware that tolerance drops rapidly after any period of non-use. Fentanyl and its analogues are extremely potent, even a tiny amount can cause overdose. Carry naloxone and ensure people around you know how to use it. Avoid mixing opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other depressants. If snorting, use your own straw/surface; alternate nostrils; rinse nose with saline.

Stimulants (Cocaine, Methamphetamine, MDMA/Ecstasy, Amphetamines)

Avoid using if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, or mental health vulnerabilities. Take regular breaks, especially when dancing, stimulants can mask exhaustion and lead to overheating. Cool down and rest in a ventilated space; overheating (hyperthermia) is a leading cause of stimulant-related death. Drink water steadily but do not overdrink (MDMA can cause dangerous hyponatraemia if water is consumed excessively). If injecting, use only sterile equipment. Avoid redosing excessively, this increases cardiovascular strain and the risk of paranoia or psychosis.

Cannabis

High-potency cannabis (especially synthetic cannabinoids) can cause acute psychosis in some people, particularly those with a vulnerability to psychotic illness. Avoid use before the brain is fully developed (under 25) where possible, or limit frequency of use. Do not drive or operate machinery after use. Edibles take 1-2 hours to take effect, wait before redosing to avoid overconsumption. If vaporising/smoking, use low temperatures and clean equipment to reduce respiratory harm.

Alcohol

Set a limit before drinking and pace yourself. Eat before and during drinking to slow alcohol absorption. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water. Never leave an intoxicated person alone or lying flat on their back (aspiration risk). Avoid mixing with opioids, benzodiazepines, or other CNS depressants. Do not drive under any level of alcohol influence.

Africa: Safer Use Notes

Nyaope/Whoonga: the unpredictable composition makes every use a different risk, there is no safe dose. If you or someone you know uses nyaope, prioritise access to sterile injecting equipment (available through SANPUD and affiliated services in South Africa) and seek warm, non-judgmental healthcare when ready. Tramadol: avoid high-dose tablets (250mg+). Mixing tramadol with alcohol, antihistamines, or other sedatives sharply increases seizure and respiratory depression risk. Khat: avoid using over multiple consecutive days without sleep, stimulant psychosis is a real risk. Navigating services: many African health services are stigmatising toward people who use drugs; seek out community-based harm reduction organisations led by peers where available.

Asia: Safer Use Notes

Methamphetamine (Yaba/Shabu/Ice): take regular breaks; do not use for multiple days without sleep, psychosis is a serious risk. Cool down, stay hydrated, and avoid hot, crowded environments. Heroin: be especially cautious with new batches, purity varies enormously. Never use alone. If naloxone is accessible in your area (limited in many Asian countries, check with local harm reduction NGOs), keep it available. Safety in punitive legal environments: use in as private a setting as possible; you have the right to remain silent if detained.

Oceania: Safer Use Notes

Methamphetamine / Ice: Australia has dedicated ice counselling lines and crystal meth support services. Set limits before use; have a trusted sober person present. Fentanyl and unknown adulterants: fentanyl test strips are increasingly available at Australian and NZ harm reduction services. Naloxone is available OTC at Australian pharmacies. MDMA / Ecstasy at events: use New Zealand's drug checking services at licensed events and Australia's pill testing pilots where available.

Europe: Safer Use Notes

Drug consumption rooms: if you are in a country with a drug consumption room (DCR), Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, use it. Novel synthetic opioids (NSOs/Nitazenes): appearing in heroin supplies across the UK and Eastern Europe and are far more potent than standard heroin; multiple doses of naloxone may be needed. GHB/GBL: measure doses precisely; avoid alcohol entirely when using GHB/GBL. Eastern Europe: in countries where harm reduction services are limited (especially Russia, which has no OAT and limited NSPs), seek out underground harm reduction networks and HIV/AIDS community organisations.

1. 1
   Listen first

   Ask what the person needs and what kind of support they are open to, do not assume.

2. 2
   Provide specific information

   A name, address, phone number, and hours are far more useful than "there are services out there."

3. 3
   Remove barriers

   Help with practical obstacles: "Would it help if I came with you?" or "I can help you call them now."

4. 4
   Respect their decision

   If they decline a referral, leave the door open without pressure. "That's okay. I'm here whenever you want to talk."

5. 5
   Follow up

   Check back in with the person, not to check on their drug use, but to show you care about them as a person.

6. 6
   Know your limits

   Peer support is powerful, but you are not a clinician. Know when to escalate and who to contact in a crisis.