Trainings/Workshops: Schools, Colleges, & Educational Institutions

05.11.25 03:41 PM - Comment(s) - By Harm Reduction Circle

Trainings & Workshops for Schools, Colleges, & Educational Institutions
For K–12 schools, colleges, universities, after-school programs, student leadership groups, and campus health staff.

Creating supportive, informed learning environments requires open dialogue, age-appropriate education, and trauma-informed approaches to substance use. These trainings are designed for educators, administrators, school counselors, campus safety teams, student life offices, peer mentors, and youth-serving programs who want to integrate evidence-based harm reduction into classrooms and campus life.

Each session centers compassion, practicality, and real-world skills — offering inclusive, non-punitive strategies for talking with students about drugs, reducing stigma, and navigating safety challenges across both K–12 and higher-education settings. Workshops are tailored to the developmental stage of learners, and can be adapted separately for students, staff, or parent communities.

Our trainings combine educational best practices with harm-reduction principles to help institutions foster healthier conversations, prevent crises, and respond effectively when concerns arise. Sessions can be delivered in assemblies, professional development days, small group workshops, or campus-wide programming.

Available Trainings & Workshops:

Talking With Teens About Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach

Overview: Gives parents, teachers, and mentors practical communication strategies to talk about substance use without fear, shame, or judgment.
Suggested Duration: 45 minutes
Includes:

The basics of harm reduction for parents and educators
Shifting from “don’t do drugs” to open, honest dialogue
Responding to difficult questions and disclosures
Creating a home or classroom environment rooted in trust and safety
Guidance on credible resources and continuing education

Party Smarter, Stay Safer: Harm Reduction for Campus Life

Overview: Designed for college students and young adults, this session covers real-world strategies for safer substance use, consent, and self-care in social or nightlife settings.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Includes:

Understanding polysubstance risks and pacing
Recognizing signs of overdose and when to seek help
Staying hydrated, nourished, and aware in party settings
Practicing consent and active bystander intervention
How to support peers and access campus harm reduction resources

Festival-Ready Harm Reduction

Overview: Teaches young adults how to prepare for multi-day festivals or large gatherings safely — from packing and hydration to peer accountability and overdose prevention.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Festival prep checklist: supplies, health, and hydration
Managing heat, exhaustion, and crowd risks
Drug checking and understanding potency risks
Buddy systems, consent, and situational awareness
Post-event decompression and harm reduction aftercare

Safer Nightlife Practices: Hydration, Pacing, and Buddy Systems

Overview: A lively, interactive session highlighting simple, science-based strategies that save lives and improve overall safety during nights out.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Recognizing early warning signs of overheating, dehydration, or distress
How to plan safe transportation and exit strategies
Using buddy systems to reduce isolation and emergency risks
Quick harm reduction interventions anyone can use
Encouraging safety culture in nightlife spaces

Practical Drug Checking: From Test Strips to Reagents'

Practical Drug Checking: From Test Strips to Reagents

Overview: Introduces young adults, student leaders, and educators to the basics of drug checking, interpretation, and harm reduction ethics.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Includes:

Understanding how fentanyl and adulterants enter the drug supply
Proper use of fentanyl and xylazine test strips
Introduction to reagent kits and interpreting results safely
What test results can — and can’t — tell you
Safety precautions and next-step decision-making

Kids as Advocates: Youth Engagement in Harm Reduction

Overview: Empowers youth groups, student clubs, and young activists to take leadership roles in safety education, peer outreach, and advocacy.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Age-appropriate harm reduction education and advocacy basics
Peer-to-peer outreach models that work
Creating inclusive messaging for school or community campaigns
Building leadership, empathy, and accountability among peers
Example youth-led initiatives and success stories

Navigating Conversations About Substance Use at Home

Overview: Provides caregivers with language, listening techniques, and perspective for handling sensitive conversations about drug use, peer pressure, or safety concerns.
Suggested Duration: 45 minutes
Includes:

Age-specific communication strategies for parents and guardians
Active listening, validation, and non-reactive responses
Setting realistic boundaries while maintaining connection
How to support a loved one experimenting or struggling
Resource list for ongoing family education and support

Supporting Students in Crisis: A Trauma-Informed School Response

Overview: Prepares educators, staff, and youth-serving professionals to recognize early signs of distress, substance-related crises, or emotional overwhelm and respond with calm, compassionate, developmentally appropriate support.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 75 minutes
Includes:

Understanding stress, trauma, and behavioral cues in children and young adults
When and how to intervene safely and effectively
Tools for grounding, de-escalation, and emotional regulation
Creating pathways for supportive referrals and warm handoffs
Guidance for building a connected, stigma-free school culture

Understanding Today’s Drug Landscape (Fentanyl, Pills, Vapes, & More)

Overview: Provides students, families, and school communities with clear, factual, stigma-free information about emerging substances, counterfeit pills, vaping trends, and local risk patterns — empowering safer decision-making.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Age-appropriate explanations of current substance trends
Fentanyl and counterfeit pill awareness
Harm reduction basics for both substance users and non-users
How to identify risk without fear-based messaging
Practical strategies for safety planning and peer support

Harm Reduction for Educators: Creating Safer, Supportive Classrooms

Overview: Designed for teachers, counselors, and school staff seeking compassionate, developmentally appropriate strategies for engaging with students impacted by substance use, stress, or stigma.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 75 minutes
Includes:

Trauma-informed communication strategies for youth
Reducing stigma and addressing concerns without punishment
Creating safer spaces for disclosure and conversation
Supporting students experiencing harm at home or among peers
Practical tools for classroom safety planning and boundaries

Mental Health, Burnout, & Compassionate Boundaries for School Staff

Overview: Supports educators, school administrators, and youth-serving professionals in building resilience, preventing burnout, and establishing boundaries while working in emotionally demanding environments.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Understanding compassion fatigue and emotional overload
Strategies for grounding, regulation, and sustainable self-care
Setting and maintaining healthy professional boundaries
Tools for supporting students without absorbing their trauma
Team-based practices to strengthen staff wellness and cohesion

Request Training

Harm Reduction Circle

https://www.harmreductioncircle.org/