Press Release

SACRAMENTO, CA — A new statewide alliance is launching today to champion harm reduction as a central strategy for improving public health and saving lives in California. The California Harm Reduction Coalition (CHRC) brings together advocates, health professionals, researchers, small business owners, and community leaders to promote evidence-based harm reduction policies that prioritize compassion, autonomy, and science.

From syringe access programs that curb HIV transmission to naloxone distribution that reverses opioid overdoses, harm reduction has a proven record of reducing suffering and preventing death. CHRC will work to expand this life-saving approach across health systems, policy frameworks, and public awareness efforts.

Harm reduction has long reduced disease and death from substance use. From HIV prevention to opioid overdose reversal, these policies work—and save lives. As part of its initial focus, the coalition is highlighting the need to apply harm reduction principles to tobacco use — a leading cause of preventable death worldwide. More than 8 million people die annually from smoking. It is time to bring harm reduction to tobacco by offering safer alternatives to those who cannot or will not quit.

The coalition’s core priorities include:

Promoting harm reduction as a science-driven public health strategy
Elevating research and lived experience to shape responsive policies
Centering the voices of communities most impacted by substance-related harm, including tobacco use

To mark its launch, CHRC is unveiling a new digital platform — www.caharmreduction.com — featuring educational resources, policy briefs, and opportunities for community engagement.

About the California Harm Reduction Coalition
The California Harm Reduction Coalition is a nonpartisan alliance of public health advocates, researchers, small businesses, and community members working to reduce harm and save lives through education, access, and equitable policy. Learn more at www.caharmreduction.com.