Harm Reduction Training

Meet people where they are. Help them stay safer, connected, and respected

Harm Reduction Training

Substance use is part of many people’s lives and so is the risk of harm, especially in the context of homelessness, poverty, trauma, racism, and stigma.


Harm Reduction Training at Alpha Career College helps you understand substance use through a compassionate, practical lens, giving you tools to support people in safer, more respectful ways.


Why This Training Matters


People who use substances often experience:


  • Stigma and discrimination
  • Barriers to housing, healthcare, and employment
  • Increased risk of overdose, illness, and violence


Harm reduction is about reducing these risks, without judgment and without requiring immediate abstinence. It focuses on building trust, offering options, and keeping people alive and connected to care.

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TRAINING DETAILS

SESSION DATE

January 28, 2026

March 25, 2026


TIME

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

TRAINING DELIVERY

In-Person

COST

$60

LOCATION

25 Tangiers Road, Unit 1, North York, ON. M3J 2B1

Harm Reduction

Who Is This Training For?


This training is ideal for:


  • PSW, DSW, FSW, ICM and mental health/addictions students
  • Shelter, housing, and outreach workers
  • Staff in harm reduction and overdose prevention programs
  • Community, peer support, and volunteer workers
  • Anyone working with individuals, families, or communities affected by substance use.

Alpha Student Experiences


"Alpha Career College is an excellent school with very professional instructors and staff members. The type of support I received there was impeccable."


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Where You Can Use These Skills

Participants can apply Harm Reduction skills in:


  • Harm reduction and supervised consumption services
  • Shelters, respite centres, and drop-ins
  • Supportive housing and community mental health programs
  • Street outreach, mobile services, and peer support projects
  • Healthcare, counselling, and social service settings


These skills are valuable in any setting where people may be affected by substance use.


Participant Requirements

  • Interest in working with or supporting people who use substances
  • Openness to exploring values, beliefs, and biases around substance use
  • Recommended for participants 18+

.

Training Outline

  • Harm Reduction Principles & Philosophy

    Core values of harm reduction, what it is (and is not), and how it fits within health and social services.

  • Understanding Substance Use & Stigma

    Different substances and patterns of use; how stigma, racism, and criminalization affect people who use drugs.

  • Practical Harm Reduction Strategies

    Safer use practices, safer supply concepts (where relevant), and how to provide equipment and information in a respectful way.

  • Overdose Awareness & Response

    Recognizing overdose signs, basic response steps according to your role/scope, and the importance of naloxone.

  • Communication & Relationship-Building

    Having non-judgmental conversations about substance use, setting boundaries, and supporting self-determination.

  • Systems Navigation & Referrals

    Connecting people to housing, health, mental health, legal, and social supports in the community.

  • Worker Safety & Vicarious Trauma

    Managing emotional impact, staying grounded, and working safely in high-stress environments.

Learn how to support people who use substances in ways that are safer, more equitable, and more compassionate