Discussion Space 5E: From Crisis to Care - Building Sustainability While Sustaining Our Soul
Tracks
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| Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
| Discussion Space/Exhibition Room (Meridian) |
Details
The funding climate for harm reduction has irreversibly shifted. While the current reality is unsustainable, a return to the previous reality seems improbable if not impossible. This leaves us with the question - what should come next?
Our session will use shared experiences to develop future responses and highlight what needs to happen for harm reduction to work for people who use drugs.
As we see a growing push for integration as a model for securing sustainable, lasting funding for harm reduction, we know this is not a foolproof model for success. Limiting harm reduction to a set of medical interventions weakens the very ethos of the harm reduction movement.
We will look at examples and experiences from countries with experiences of integration, bringing both successes and challenges to show what examples should and should not be followed. We encourage you to bring experiences with you and challenge our experiences.
Ultimately we want to colletively discover – how can we build sustainability in this new reality without selling our soul?
Speaker
Ailish Brennan
Policy Analyst And Campaigner
Harm Reduction International
From Crisis to Care - Building Sustainability While Sustaining Our Soul
Biography
Ailish Brennan is a Policy Analyst with the Sustainable Finance Team at Harm Reduction International. She is a harm reductionist and drug policy activist focusing focusing her work on the financial impact of criminalisation, and the impact of drug policies on young people, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Ailish Brennan
Policy Analyst And Campaigner
Harm Reduction International
Introduction
4:00 PM - 4:10 PMBiography
Ailish Brennan is a Policy Analyst with the Sustainable Finance Team at Harm Reduction International. She is a harm reductionist and drug policy activist focusing focusing her work on the financial impact of criminalisation, and the impact of drug policies on young people, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.
John Melhus
EuroNPUD
Opening Interventions
4:10 PM - 4:40 PMBiography
Mrs Vicki Beere
Post Graduate Researcher
University of Manchester
Opening Interventions
4:10 PM - 4:40 PMBiography
Mr Isaac Ogunkola
Post Graduate Researcher
University Of Bristol
Opening Interventions
4:10 PM - 4:40 PMBiography
John Melhus
EuroNPUD
Panel Discussion
4:40 PM - 5:00 PMBiography
Mrs Vicki Beere
Post Graduate Researcher
University of Manchester
Panel Discussion
4:40 PM - 5:00 PMBiography
Mr Isaac Ogunkola
Post Graduate Researcher
University Of Bristol
Panel Discussion
4:40 PM - 5:00 PMBiography
INHSU 2026
Q&A
5:00 PM - 5:30 PMBiography
