Building Safer Spaces: Harm Reduction in Action Series

Part 2: The Psychopharmacology of Drugs (Drugs 101 from Alcohol to Xanax: Understanding Psychopharmacology within a Harm Reduction Framework), with speakers Tanagra M. Melgarejo, MSW, and Joe Pereira, LICSW, CAS

Tuesday, June 10 (12-1:30pm EST)

1.5 CEUs available!

Sponsored by RIZE Massachusetts and the National Harm Reduction Coalition

This webinar will be on Zoom; details will be emailed a day before the webinar.

Webinar description:

This training focuses on developing basic knowledge about the drugs that are commonly used by participants at Syringe Service Programs (SSPs). (that individuals you are working with may be using) We will review basic information about how drugs are used, why they are used, and ways to reduce the harms from using drugs. The session will also provide an overview of how to engage program participants/clients in conversations around the way they are using drugs and potential harms that can be reduced. Finally, participants will learn how to use Harm Reduction methods to engage with people who use drugs and better understand their experience.

Participation will: 

• Describe types of drugs commonly used.

• Discuss factors surrounding drug use.

• List three harm reduction ideas to reduce drug-related risk.

Registration fees:

FREE for members and non-members

Register here for part 1: https://www.naswma.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1935371&group=

Register here for part 3: https://www.naswma.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1935382&group=

About the speakers: 

Tanagra M. Melgarejo, MSW was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is the proud daughter of Mexican and Cuban immigrants. She has over 20 years of experience in the fields of organizational and  program development, evaluation, technical assistance, community organizing, and direct service  with underserved/over-surveilled/stigmatized folks, particularly within Latinx communities. She  currently works as the National Learning and Engagement Strategist for the National Harm Reduction Coalition. Her commitment and passion for harm reduction started out in Holyoke, Massachusetts in the 1990’s while she worked as Popular Education Director for a local HIV prevention program. Before  moving to Oakland, she was working in Puerto Rico with women who are survivors of gender based violence, focusing her work and activism around economic/human rights of women. She holds an MSW from the University of Puerto Rico and was a lecturer for social work students at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus and the University of Turabo. Finally, Tanagra identifies as an intersectional feminist who believes in decolonization as the way towards liberation. 

Joe Pereira, LICSW, CAS is a licensed clinical social worker and addictions specialist who has been practicing for over 30 years.  Joe was a co-founder of Outlook Associates of New England, a practice started to assist persons with anger control problems. He is currently in private practice in Arlington, MA offering individual and group therapy as well as training and consultation with a focus on anger management to adults and adolescents. Joe has given numerous trainings locally as well as nationally and internationally on the treatment of anger management problems as well as workplace conflict, chemical addictions and stress management.  He was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal on the topic of working with people with anger control issues and has made an appearance on the Boston local news show “Chronicle” discussing”the topic of road rage. He also was involved with the Massachusetts Medical Society on developing a program for disruptive physicians. Joe has been a lecturer at the Boston University Graduate School of Social Work since 2013.