Harm Reduction Journal is currently accepting submissions for our collection on Community-Engaged Harm-Reduction Research for Social Justice. The persistent, significant gap between research and practice has prompted calls from advocates, policy makers, patients, and research agencies for greater involvement of individuals with lived experience in the conceptualization and realization of public health research. Today, researchers are increasingly including patient and community consultants as well as advisory boards in their research designs. Engaging partners with lived experience (e.g., previous drug use) or living experience (e.g., current drug use) is crucial for addressing our most urgent, global public health needs. However, these approaches are particularly useful for promoting health equity and justice by incorporating the voices and perspectives of those traditionally disenfranchised from access to health. Thus, advancing our understanding of community-engaged harm-reduction research for social justice can help mitigate issues of stigmatization, marginalization, and criminalization in public health and human rights.
The purpose of this special collection is to disseminate research, commentary, and novel methodologies that describe community-engaged harm reduction approaches to promote social justice across the globe. We acknowledge the various forms of community engagement, and therefore, welcome submissions from those who involve affected community members in diverse ways, ranging from advisors to equitable research partners engaged in systematic approaches such as participatory action research and community-based participatory research. We also encourage submissions on community-driven or community-led projects that may receive support or guidance from researchers. The vision of social justice in this context refers to a state where all people, regardless of demographic characteristics, have the resources, respect, and supports they need to flourish.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
• Impact of harm reduction interventions on health equity outcomes
• Novel community engaged research strategies with marginalized communities
• Experiences of community members engaging in harm reduction research
• Applications of research and research findings to social justice advocacy
• Equitable allocation of harm reduction tools and services
• Ethical conduct and respect for marginalized communities.
