Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige
Hi Paige, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Before 901 Harm Reduction was created, — was a local harm reductionist that had worked with people who use drugs (PWUD) for about a decade already when she moved to Memphis, TN to start a PhD studying drug use and substance use disorder (SUD) risk. She learned pretty quickly that Memphis harm reduction was lacking; it mostly consisted of prevention coalitions, and syringe service programs (SSPs), and even if harm reduction tools and methods were implemented in some of these spaces or in treatment programs, it still stigmatized drug use itself, and pushed for the drug user to be completely abstinent as the end goal. There is one organization that claims to be a harm reduction organization, but they only run an SSP and have very conservative values that don’t align with the true meaning and concept of harm reduction as a movement. The National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC), a U.S.-based leading organization in the harm reduction movement that organizes and supports local harm reduction groups and initiatives and works to promote the health, dignity, and bodily autonomy of PWUD, and works to reduce stigma, improve policies, and ensure that harm reduction is centered on racial and social justice, has the principles of harm reduction listed out on their website ( https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/ ):
“Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.
Harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself. Because harm reduction demands that interventions and policies designed to serve people who use drugs reflect specific individual and community needs, there is no universal definition of or formula for implementing harm reduction.
However, National Harm Reduction Coalition considers the following principles central to harm reduction practice:
1. Accepts, for better or worse, that licit and illicit drug use is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize its harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them.
2. Understands drug use as a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses a continuum of behaviors from severe use to total abstinence, and acknowledges that some ways of using drugs are clearly safer than others.
3. Establishes quality of individual and community life and well-being — not necessarily cessation of all drug use — as the criteria for successful interventions and policies.
4. Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs and the communities in which they live in order to assist them in reducing attendant harm.
5. Ensures that people who use drugs and those with a history of drug use routinely have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them.
6. Affirms people who use drugs (PWUD) themselves as the primary agents of reducing the harms of their drug use and seeks to empower PWUD to share information and support each other in strategies which meet their actual conditions of use.
7. Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination, and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm.
8. Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger that can be associated with illicit drug use.
”
This led the organizer to mostly focus on her PhD and thought she would have to give up the work while here in Memphis, especially because of the risk associated with the work (In TN, a red state in the south, drug use and SUD is still very criminalized and police still target harm reduction work by using the resources and supplies harm reductionists give out as a way to target this type of work. For example, handing out intramuscular overdose reversal kits that include syringes for injecting naloxone (the opioid antagonist drug that saves lives by attaching to opioid receptors to reverse and block the effects of opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, prescription painkillers like morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone, etc.), is sometimes labeled by police as “drug paraphernalia” and, therefore, now gives them a legal basis to allow them to search your property, such as your vehicle or home. However, still in her own free time she would go out and give free harm reduction supplies to those who needed it and sometimes also worked with other organizations to do the work. Later in her PhD, after gaining the skills of writing and publishing research, she collaborated with Dr. Ju Park, PhD, MHS, the Principal Investigator of the Harm Reduction Innovation Lab at Rhode Island Hospital, to write a literature review on the lack of research and evidence for higher doses of naloxone formulations, which can lead to unnecessarily worse precipitated withdrawal symptoms and other long-term harms ( citation: ——- , Garrett, D.P., Thompson, E. et al. High-dose naloxone formulations are not as essential as we thought. Harm Reduct J 21, 93 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00994-z ), which was published in the Harm Reduction Journal; a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Then, in the Summer of 2024, a new medical student with motivation and interest in harm reduction work, was looking up the the harm reduction landscape in Memphis, and found —- publication. This medical student reached out to ask, and both him and —– learned they had the same values and goals in supporting harm reduction work as a movement. Together, they started 901 Harm Reduction, with just them as the only 2 initial organizers, with the goal of building a harm reduction organization that truly meets people where they are at, and prioritizes building community empowerment and solidarity among PWUD.
A month later, 901 Harm Reduction reached out to Memphis Food Not Bombs (MFNB) because they had previously worked with —– in providing and distributing overdose reversal kits and fentanyl test strips. Food Not Bombs essentially does non-drug-based harm reduction work; providing mutual aid and doing direct action, specifically focusing on providing free food and other important resources for unhoused and other marginalized folks in Memphis. Both 901 Harm Reduction and Memphis Food Not Bombs often work with and empower the same people, so, naturally, becoming sister organizations felt like a great fit. With similar values, both groups work to build community rather than a “charity model” of “giving to the needy” and instead recognizing that relying on each other is often all we have. Those who do the work are no different or better than the people we provide resources to and develop relationships with as we do this work. Some of us in both MFNB and 901 Harm Reduction have even been unhoused and/or struggle with chaotic drug use ourselves.
Our mission is to reduce the harms associated with drug use through practical strategies, education, empowerment, and solidarity. We reject the stigmatizing narratives perpetuated by the “War on Drugs” and instead embrace a harm reduction approach that prioritizes bodily autonomy, social justice, and respect for the rights of all individuals who use drugs.
In this space (of 901 Harm Reduction), we provide a safe, stigma-free environment for sharing resources, discussing safer use strategies, Tennessee’s drug policies, and building solidarity among our community. Unlike the charity model, we believe in organizing to empower and uplift one another. Whether you are unhoused, dealing with chaotic drug use, or simply seeking tools to stay safer, we are here to meet you where you are, without judgment or coercion.
Now, over half a year later, 901 Harm Reduction has grown to have 5 organizers and is an official non-profit with 501c3 status. Though we don’t support the non-profit industrial complex, we applied for these official documentations to protect both ourselves and those we work to support, and also because we plan to eventually apply for funding to do the work. Currently, we are run by mostly low-income “paycheck to paycheck” organizers that are either in school full time or work full time or both. Many of us would love to dedicate more time and capacity to this work and the Memphis community certainly needs it. However, unless we can take time off from work without missing our bills, we can only do as much as our capacity allows. We hope to eventually grow as an organization with both more organizers and more PWUD to develop community with, and so many people want to get involved but are in the same boat; they only have so much capacity given everyone in this current economy has to work constantly to barely make it by and get our bills paid. With that in mind, if anyone would like to help support us please consider donating! We currently use Ca$happ, which our tag is $901HarmReduction . All donations and funds go back into supporting the work, whether it be to get supplies, gas to deliver supplies, mutual aid, etc.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Doing harm reduction work in Memphis—and in Tennessee as a whole—comes with significant challenges. The biggest struggle is operating in a state that remains deeply hostile to harm reduction efforts. Despite the overwhelming evidence that harm reduction saves lives, Tennessee continues to criminalize drug use, and in some cases, even harm reduction itself. For example, distributing naloxone in certain formulations can lead to accusations of “drug paraphernalia” possession, creating unnecessary risks for both organizers and the people we serve. We’ve had to be extremely careful in how we provide resources while still prioritizing accessibility for people who need them most.
On top of legal barriers, there’s also the issue of stigma—not just from law enforcement but from medical professionals, treatment centers, and even some organizations that claim to practice harm reduction but ultimately push an abstinence-only approach. We’ve had to fight to create a space where people who use drugs (PWUD) are not just tolerated but truly respected and empowered. Many mainstream public health and nonprofit spaces still see harm reduction as a stepping stone to abstinence, rather than a standalone approach that prioritizes autonomy and dignity.
Another major struggle is funding. Right now, 901 Harm Reduction is entirely volunteer-run by people who are already stretched thin—students, full-time workers, and individuals living paycheck to paycheck. We do this work because we believe in it, but without sustainable funding, our ability to expand is limited. We’re constantly strategizing ways to get supplies, cover travel costs, and sustain our outreach efforts without burning ourselves out.
Despite these challenges, we’ve found strength in solidarity. The relationships we’ve built—with each other, with Memphis Food Not Bombs, and most importantly, with the community we serve—keep us going. People who use drugs are often seen as disposable in our society, but we know their lives are worth fighting for. The work isn’t easy, but it’s necessary.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At 901 Harm Reduction, we do more than just distribute harm reduction supplies—we create a space where people who use drugs (PWUD) are met with dignity, respect, and support, without judgment or coercion. Our work is rooted in both evidence-based practices and the real-life experiences of PWUD, ensuring that harm reduction remains a movement for and by the people most affected by the War on Drugs.
What sets us apart is not just our commitment to harm reduction, but the backgrounds of the people leading this work. As one of the organizers, I bring a truly unique combination of lived experience, harm reduction work, and academic research in drug use. I am a biomedical scientist and PhD candidate at UTHSC, studying how social environments shape substance use disorder (SUD) risk in adulthood at the molecular and behavioral levels. I am also a longtime harm reductionist and a drug user myself, with personal experience navigating chaotic drug use and the criminalization that comes with it. There are very few people who exist at the intersection of all these identities—scientist, harm reductionist, and PWUD—especially in a field where stigma against drug use is so strong that even NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow has publicly stated that she would not hire PWUD as researchers.
Despite this, I have carved out a space in biomedical research to critically examine the ways drug policies and medical interventions impact PWUD. My first-author publication in the Harm Reduction Journal, co-authored with Dr. Ju Park of Brown University’s Harm Reduction Innovation Lab, challenges the push for high-dose naloxone formulations, arguing that they were introduced without sufficient evidence, are often cost-prohibitive, and can cause unnecessarily severe withdrawal symptoms. This paper was not just about science—it was about bodily autonomy, and it was written by and for PWUD and harm reductionists who actually experience these realities.
Beyond academia, my harm reduction work started in Cincinnati, OH, in the 2010s—a time and place where harm reduction was not welcomed. Police frequently harassed both harm reductionists and PWUD, and the War on Drugs dictated policies that actively made it harder to prevent overdoses. Unfortunately, our grassroots group dissolved due to arrests, overdose, and the ongoing criminalization of this work. But that experience, along with my personal history of opioid dependence and the War on Drugs’ consequences in my own life, has driven me to continue organizing.
I am most proud of building 901 Harm Reduction into what it is today—an organization that refuses to compromise on harm reduction principles, that rejects the charity model in favor of community solidarity, and that is led by people who have firsthand experience with the realities of drug use. As an organizer, a scientist, and a PWUD, I bring an understanding of drug use from multiple perspectives—something that is rarely represented in biomedical research, harm reduction work, or policy discussions. After I earn my PhD, I plan to be more open about my drug use and push for more representation of PWUD in scientific and policy spaces, because our voices are essential in shaping the future of harm reduction and drug policy reform.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are 5 organizers, all of whom, for the obvious reason that the work we do is controversial and none of us can risk the discrimination and harassment from law enforcement more than we already have, do not wish to share our full names.
Additionally, our board members:
Dr. Ju Park – who is a professor at Brown University and has been mentioned previously as the PI that runs the harm reduction innovation lab in rhode island, has been a huge mentor and supporter. She has helped us in building our organization, a grassroots org truly built from the ground up. She has also contributed financially (so have all the below board members).
Dr. Peter Hossler – Rhodes Professor who has helped connect us to potential opportunities and events, as well as worked to help find us potential future grant opportunities and opened the Wellness Clinic in Memphis, which has provided some harm reduction supplies as well.
Dr. Orisha Bowers – Orisha used to be the executive director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition. She is now currently Executive Director at Orixa Healing Art, Wellness and Spiritual Centre. She is a lifelong community advocate, educator, and leader. Dr. Bowers, also an ordained minister combines her love for women’s health, rights, and justice with research and interdisciplinary studies to continue to creatively transform the community for universal liberation. She has shown us great support both financially and in helping understand how to navigate the non-profit world.
Pricing:
- 901 Harm Reduction Donation Ca$happ Link: https://cash.app/$901HarmReduction
- 901 Harm Reduction Ca$happ tag: $901HarmReduction
- We also have Amazon Wish Lists for people who would like to donate supplies we need to operate (whether buy and send donation via amazon or read list and then donate their own version or donate used versions they already have) – we can send the links if you’d like to add that to the magazine publication!
Contact Info:
- Email: 901harmreduction@gmail.com (people can email us, text us, or DM us on socials to get into contact – for supplies, to connect, to support, to get involved, etc. – this is our email)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/901harmreduction/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Baszq4C5U/
- Other: Here is our phone line: 901-675-3020 (since we are currently an all volunteer run organization and don’t have funding yet, we can’t afford to staff this line 24/7, so text is preferred. However, people can still call and leave a voicemail and we still will get back to them as soon as possible!)
