HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Substance Misuse Educator Seth Dewey let us know about a Harm Reduction Works support group that is starting in Hutchinson this weekend.
"There's going to be open meetings," Dewey said. "In an open group, everyone is welcome, especially people who aren't sure what harm reduction is or whether it can help them, or if they just have a friend or a family member who is using. Tomorrow is the first one. The first meeting is going to be an open meeting. Then we will determine focused meetings."
The focused meetings will be set up privately, but will take a different approach than abstinence-based support groups.
"Focused groups are for people who do use substances or alcohol, or who have in the past," Dewey said. "That is going to be one where it's closed to those individuals. That way, they can be comfortable sharing their needs and their goals and their concerns. It's important for those people who have had or do have a direct relationship with substances to come together."
The goal is to get safer behaviors, even if someone isn't ready to stop using immediately.
"People are at different stages," Dewey said. "Harm Reduction Works just recognizes that. Harm reduction includes all paths to recovery as defined by each person in their own way. That includes if people are at a stage where they are trying to moderate their use or trying to use with less risky behaviors of overdose or illnesses, but it also includes those who are in abstinence-based recovery, but who want to be there for other individuals."
The first meeting is Saturday at 3 p.m. at 400 West 2nd Ave. Suite A in Hutchinson.