history

The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA) emerged in early 2019 in response to unprecedented opioid overdose rates and apparent statewide need for harm reduction policy advocacy, education, and capacity-building for direct services with people impacted by substance use, overdose, HIV, hepatitis, and sex work.  

THRA is a resource for all community sectors and organizations seeking evidence-informed pathways to improvement of conditions and outcomes related to drug use and related activity.  We operate a mobile direct services program in the Austin area (Austin OPS) that provides overdose prevention education, naloxone, and linkage to same-day medicine-based treatment for opioid use disorders.

Our mission is to develop, support, and promote policies, practices, and programs that create positive change and reduce the harmful consequences of substance use and misuse in Texas.

mission

VISION

We envision a state in which people of all ages have equitable opportunities to live healthy and meaningful lives free from harmful consequences of substance misuse.

The Alliance supports substance use related policies, programs and services that:

Honor the complex biopsychosocial  nature of substance misuse, unique to every individual.
 

 Respect the human rights, cultural values, beliefs, autonomy and dignity of all people.
 

Are evidence-informed, pragmatic, non-coercive and non-discriminatory.
 

Are continuously improved with timely and relevant data.
 

Are trauma-informed, resilience & recovery oriented.
 

Are equally accessible to all.

Are informed by the wisdom of lived experience.​

board of directors

Executive Committee

Chair

Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D.

Vice Chair

Lisa Medina 

Treasurer

Van Jobe

Secretary

Jana Magee

Board Members

Channing Neary

Carlos Tirado

Sam MacMaster

Charles Thibodeaux

want to get involved?

THRA seeks to grow our board and committees membership with an eye for lived experience of harms and resilience in the current environment of drug and health policy. We also seek experts in the legal, criminal justice, health systems, and legislative realms of service to advise or join our leadership to further our mission.

Interested?
 

Email us at

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