The key to keeping people who use drugs meaningfully connected in their communities, with access to disease prevention and health services, and to reduce recidivism rates is to treat every person, regardless of their circumstance or condition, with dignity and respect.
The IRA is participant-driven, meaning we involve active and former drug users in meaningful ways at every level of our organization, up to and including 51% of our Board of Directors. Due to criminalization and social stigma, we are not able to publicly list all of these essential people, though we are working tirelessly to end the stigma that forces people to have to protect themselves and stay hidden.
To state it more clearly: active drug users are and always will be the experts on how to best reach and collaborate with active drug users, and we could not exist without their input and expertise.
Some of our key volunteers and advisers: Dr. Alicia Suarez, DePauw University, Medical Sociologist, Viral Hepatitis Frank Miller, Psychologist (retired) Kris Roehling, HIV Prevention Specialist, Recovery Coach Dr. Carrie Lawrence, IU Public Health Rural AIDS Center, Project Cultivate David Debruiker, Overdose Educator, Social Work Intern Emily Brinegar, MSW, HIV Prevention Coordinator Sarah Cahillane, Peace Corps HIV Specialist Heather Bland, Overdose Educator Dan Bigg, Director, Chicago Recovery Alliance Dr. Barbara Andraka-Christou, Esq., J.D., Ph.D. MAT Specialist Claire Detrich, RN, Overdose Educator Whitney Meeks, BSW Student, Overdose Educator Dawn McDowell, CNA, Overdose Educator Danielle Yeknich, RN, Addictions Specialist Emma Rice, RN, Peace Corp HIV Specialist Jake Gardner, Overdose Educator Christopher Abert, Social Worker, HRC Harm Reduction Trainer, Overdose Educator Christy Thrasher, Teacher, Overdose Educator Dr. Beth Meyerson, IU School of Public Health Carly Evans, Overdose Educator Emma Roberts, Capacity Building, Harm Reduction Coalition Michael Emmett, Social Worker, Home Based Case Manager Alyson Grinder, BSW, (MSW student in Harm Reduction) Brandon Drake, Courage To Change Sober Living, Recovery Coach Dr. Scott Moore, Naloxone standing order physician
- We have been open 7 days a week to distribute harm reduction supplies to stop the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, as well as medical conditions such as sepsis infections and endocarditis.
- Engaged with over 2000 unique community members who use IV drugs, serving as a previously unavailable access point for other social services.
- In 2017 we referred over 70% of our participants to other services, including 750 substance use referrals (58 of which were placed in long-term treatment centers), over 280 Healthy Indiana Plan referrals, 435 mental health referrals, with 99.9% of our participants receiving harm reduction counseling.
- Since we began, we have obtained and or distributed 17,000 doses of naloxone to people who are using drugs, their families, and social service providers. As of January 2018 have had over 1200 overdose reversals reported.
- We have trained and deployed hundreds of volunteers to look for and dispose of improperly disposed of syringes, with weekly walks through the downtown corridor.
- We have offered mobile outreach services three times a week, office hours four times a week and limited delivery in rural areas.
- Collected and distributed millions of dollars worth of donated in-kind harm reduction supplies.
- Distributed free naloxone and train in its administration to local fire departments as well as Ellettsville, Indiana University and Bloomington Police Departments, the Monroe County Sheriff Department, and Monroe County Corrections Department.
- Provided free sharps containers to the Bloomington Police Department, Bloomington Housing Authority, and Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.
- Engage with thousands of participants with general services, such as nursing triage in our mobile unit, distributing hundreds of blankets and jackets, thousands of articles of clothing, feminine products, camping gear, hot coffee and food to those in need
- In 2017 we administered 120 HIV and 106 HCV antibody tests, helping folks access care coordination and treatment.
- Testified in Washington DC to a joint House/Senate briefing on the need to lift the ban on funding.
- Interviewed with the New York Times, NBC National, Politico, HBO Vice News, Al-Jazeera, NPR, NBC, Think Progress, Buzzfeed, as well as Herald Times, WFHB, WTIU, Limestone Post, and many others locally.
- Multiple Capitol Hill visits with Joe Donnelly, Todd Young, Trey Hollingsworth, Mitch McConnell,
- We have presented at/hosted nineteen community-based overdose vigils, co-hosting three overdose vigils in Bloomington with 100’s in attendance.
- Presented at the Susan Li Conference at Fairbanks Hospital, South Central Opioid Summit, and Louisville Neonatal Abstinence Conference.
- Founded Indiana Harm Reduction Coalition
- Presented at the Indiana Attorney General's Symposium for Prescription Drug Abuse
- Presented at IU School of Public Health, University of Lexington Medical School. IU School of Social Work, IU School of Education, as well as classes at Ivy Tech and to high school students about harm reduction.
- Worked with Indiana State Department of Health, Monroe County Department of Health, Monroe County Prosecutors Office, Lawrence County Health Department, Brown County Health Department, and the Indiana Attorney General's office to allow for the expansion of comprehensive harm reduction across Indiana.
- Co-chaired the Monroe County Opioid Commission and sat on the steering committee for two South Central Indiana Opioid Summits.
- Worked to introduce Law Enforcement Protection, On-demand Treatment, and Good Samaritan OD legislation
- Hosted and co-facilitated nine Harm Reduction trainings in conjunction with the Harm Reduction Coalition.
- Trained thousands of people to administer and over 600 to distribute naloxone.
