The Student Harm Reduction Coalition (SHaRC) is a student-led organization at the University of Pennsylvania bringing together individuals dedicated to confronting the crisis of addiction in Philadelphia. Our members are devoted to meaningful volunteer work which provides greater opportunity for harm reduction strategies while simultaneously providing advocacy through education of our undergraduate body and Philadelphians.
Our goals are two-headed. Firstly, we aim to provide clinical outreach to undergraduate students focused on the demographic troubled with addiction through our affiliate organizations. We are currently working with Prevention Point, The Everywhere Project, Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, Operation in my Backyard, and the Sol Collective. Our structure of volunteering is a cohort system where small groups hold each other accountable to a weekly volunteer commitment established and maintained throughout each semester. Secondly, our efforts are tied to advocating for this commonly misunderstood and mistreated group. This will be achieved with tabling, posting fliers throughout the city, and elevating the voices of fellow harm reductionists in the area. We plan expansion of our education efforts to the panhellenic community and other community groups in the near future.
SHaRC is a new organization on campus seeking passionate individuals who believe that this work directly influences the lives of many. We are open to the ideas of all new members and hope to expand in ways which follow our organization’s general body wishes. Please do not hesitate to reach out, as all ideas and inquiries are worthwhile.