Ohio doesn’t have a drug use problem
It has a drug policy problem. Conventional wisdom is that Ohio has high rates of overdose death because of high levels of drug use, high levels of drug misuse and poor access to treatment. All three beliefs are false. In every respect, Ohio's drug use and...
read more
Registration opens for conference for people who use(d) drugs and their loved ones
Early bird tickets available for $25 through January 31. In the tradition of “nothing about us without us,” the conference will hear directly from drug users, drug dealers, moms, dads, children. No doctors. No police. No bullshit.
read more
Fentanyl-laced cocaine falls sharply in Ohio; overdose deaths plummet
Carfentanil has essentially vanished from Ohio. Fentanyl of any type has dropped 80% in Ohio’s cocaine supply. Why? Nobody knows. But safer cocaine (and other drugs) is the reason overdose death is falling.
read more
Health Policy Institute of Ohio makes harm reduction recommendations
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio released the latest in its series of reports on how closely Ohio's response to the opiate problem matches what scientific evidence says should be done. This 44-page report focused on how well the state uses harm reduction...
read more
On the eve of the Issue 1 vote, Cindy Koumoutzis’ heart is with “those people” who she’s come to know and love
Says Cindy Koumoutzis of the family group Ohio CAN (Change Addiction Now): No matter what voters decide on Issue 1, we need to stay focused on mental health and why people self medicate.
read more
HIV transmission from IV drug use soars in Ohio, state health department reports
To control spread of disease, the Ohio Department of Health recommends people who inject drug be provided ‘reasonable access’ to sterile syringes and needles at pharmacies and local syringe exchange programs.
read more
Ohio Imprisonment Rate, 1880-2016. What’s happened to us?
Ohio’s imprisonment rate is 5x above the state’s historical level. The U.S. is roughly the same. Did you know this? What’s gone wrong?
read more
4 VIDEOS: Protect Ohio Families. Vote YES on Issue 1
Issue 1 would end imprisonment for most drug possession arrests Harm Reduction Ohio made four videos in support of Issue 1. This citizens' initiative would end imprisonment for drug possession (except in the largest amounts) and direct the savings to...
read more
Availability of Medication-Assisted Treatment increases in Ohio
But gaps remain and a costly bias to Vivitrol, the most expensive and least proven treatment, remains strong.
read more
What Is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction is a philosophy that supports drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights.
It uses pragmatic strategies that meet drug users “where they’re at” and all positive changes, even incremental ones. Harm reduction supports safer use of drugs — syringe programs, safe consumption sites and methadone, for example — and empowering people to live happy, healthy lives .
We believe in treating all people, including drug users, with respect and without stigma. We oppose criminalizing drugs and drug users.
Contact Harm Reduction Ohio
How much fentanyl will kill you?
A lot less than you think.
Be careful. Be very, very careful.
Art by Hannah Weatherington
Need drug treatment?
A non-profit foundation provides a neutral guide to Ohio recovery facilities.
Join our email list
Harm Reduction Ohio Videos
What is harm reduction?
Dennis Cauchon
President, Harm Reduction Ohio
Dennis is the founder of Harm Reduction Ohio. He created the 501(c)3 non-profit organization to advocate for drug policies that reduce overdose death, imprisonment and other drug war harms.
He is a former national reporter at USA TODAY and Knight Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School. During his 35-year journalism career, he won various awards, including the Champion of Justice award and H.L. Mencken Award for Investigative Journalism for work on the drug war.
“I believe all people, including drug users, should be treated peacefully and with respect,” he says.
Dennis is the father of two boys and lives in Granville, Ohio.
Taylor Bennett
Director of Advocacy
Taylor has a master of science degree in human development and family sciences from the University of Wyoming. She’s won multiple awards for academic excellence and received her undergraduate degree at Morehead State University in her native Kentucky. (Go Eagles!:)
Taylor is married to her college sweetheart, who she’s known since pre-school. She has two adorable boys and divides her time between Columbus and Greenfield, Ohio.
Best Interest of the Children
Four short videos on Issue 1
Help Save Lives