Jenna Mellor

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) was formed by people who use drugs, people who used to use drugs, people in recovery, people who have lost loved ones to overdose, people harmed by the drug war, faith leaders, and concerned community members. We formed in 2019 after the closure of the New Jersey affiliate of the Drug Policy Alliance. We came together because equitable drug policy and dignified care are not only the best tools we have to end the overdose crisis, they are also morally imperative. We knew we needed a space to unite harm reduction champions who are aligned with intersecting movements for racial, economic, and social justice in New Jersey. We needed a space to build New Jersey’s infrastructure for a harm reduction response to drug use, and address the gaps in the continuum of care for people who use drugs that we see in our lives and work. New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition is that space.