Community Guide to Harm Reduction

Reducing Harm & Improving Health for Drug Users & Community

Understand the advantages of harm reduction and how it can prevent further complications of drug use.

Dr. Lisa Connors, LCPC, from Maryland Reinforcing Overdose Prevention through Training and Advocacy (ROPTA) will present information for the community about the practice of Harm Reduction. 

Harm reduction (HR) incorporates a spectrum of evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies from safer use, to managed use, to abstinence to meet drug users “where they’re at,” addressing conditions of use along with the use itself. Learn the benefits of harm reduction and how HR strategies can be applied to reduce harm and further complications from drug use and reduce the harm and risks to the community. We will dispel some common myths of harm reduction and illustrate where it fits within the continuum of substance use treatment and recovery. Participants will gain and understanding of harm reduction principles and services and be able to define what it means to “practice” harm reduction.

Registration is not required. If you have questions, please contact the P. D. Brown Branch at 301-645-2864 or email pdbrownref@ccplonline.org. 

Maryland ROPTA is a University of Maryland Extension (UME) initiative that offers a wide range of trainings, materials, and programs to address the overdose crisis in Maryland. ROPTA strives to strengthen Maryland's capacity to combat the substance use and mental health crises by educating, empowering, and training communities to respond to mental health and substance use challenges through no-cost, evidence-based programs and public outreach.

Lisa Connors, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC, MAC, is a Consultant for the ROPTA program, serving the southern Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. Lisa works as a representative in developing community partnerships and linking those entities to resources, events, and training. She is also a Regrounding Our Response (RoR) Master Presenter on ACEs and Social Determinants of Health and she serves on the Maryland HIV Planning Group and the Critical Issues in the Black Community Committee of NAADAC (the Association for Addiction Professionals). Dr. Connors is a Licensed Clinical Professional  Counselor, National Certified Counselor and Master Addiction Counselor with over 30 years in the human services/social work/counseling/addiction fields. She has worked in various settings, providing services to the despondent and downtrodden. She works tirelessly to help others reach their fullest potential, helping and supporting those oppressed, stigmatized, marginalized, and victimized. Her greatest passion is working with individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use and mental health disorders, grief and loss, and social and racial injustices. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Connors is a Pastor, college professor, grief coach, and trainer. Dr. Connors holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, and Ph.D. in Psychology degrees.

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