Samad's House launches Black and Brown harm reduction network in new podcast episode

Samad's House used the latest episode of its podcast Voices of the Front Lines to launch the Midwest Regional Black and Brown Harm Reduction Network and spotlight Milwaukee leaders working to prevent overdose deaths. The episode centers on unequal progress in overdose reduction, the need for culturally relevant outreach, and the role of naloxone, test strips, housing and peer support in saving lives.

Why it matters: - Overdose deaths are falling in Milwaukee and nationwide, but Black and Brown communities are not seeing the same progress. - The new Midwest Regional Black and Brown Harm Reduction Network is designed to close that gap with community-led outreach, culturally relevant support and policy advocacy. - The episode frames harm reduction as a public health response to stigma, unequal access and preventable overdose deaths.

What happened: - Samad's House released Episode 2 of its podcast, Voices of the Front Lines, hosted by founder Tahira Malik. - The episode marks the launch of the Midwest Regional Black and Brown Harm Reduction Network. - The discussion features Connie Calderon of the Milwaukee Turners, Amanda Maria De Leon of Community Medical Services and Caroline Gaston of Samad's House. - The video podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify, and the audio version is available on major podcast platforms. - Malik says the network exists to elevate harm reduction voices, reduce stigma, educate the public and push policies that keep communities safe.

The details: - Malik says overdose deaths are declining overall in Milwaukee and across the U.S., but the decline is not as sharp in Black and Brown neighborhoods. - The episode says systemic barriers include limited access to resources, stigma and a lack of culturally relevant outreach. - Malik says naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, can save a life if given soon after an overdose. - Gaston says Narcan saved her life after an accidental fentanyl exposure, and she now distributes Narcan and trains community members every Monday. - Calderon says access to naloxone has changed harm reduction work compared with 20 years ago, when treatment was punitive and overdose response tools were harder to find. - Calderon recalls having to search for only two or three boxes of supplies for training sessions before naloxone was more widely available. - Malik says Samad's House's first Black Balloon Day training helped people recognize that someone may be overdosing even if they appear to be asleep. - Calderon points to fentanyl and xylazine test strips as essential tools. - Malik says fentanyl was responsible for 80% of fatal drug overdose deaths in Milwaukee County a couple of years ago. - Malik describes xylazine as a horse tranquilizer being added to drugs and says it is just as fatal as fentanyl. - Gaston says harm reduction supplies also help reduce infection risk and exposure to fentanyl- or xylazine-laced drugs. - De Leon says stigma is the number one reason people do not get help. - De Leon argues the community should respond with direct support for unhoused people and people using drugs rather than judgment. - Malik says people in the most affected neighborhoods often avoid help because they do not want to be labeled or judged. - De Leon tells listeners struggling with addiction, "You are worthy of saving" and says people can still recover even after many treatment attempts. - Housing came up as the biggest missing resource. - De Leon warns that $3.8 million in county housing cuts could reverse progress. - Malik says losing housing support can push people back into the same systems they are trying to recover from. - Malik also flags possible gaps in healthcare and Medicaid in the year ahead. - The network centers Black and Brown leadership because people are more likely to trust messengers who look like them and understand their communities. - Malik says Samad's House's ambassador model works because people with lived experience can reach people outsiders cannot. - Calderon says language barriers also matter, including materials that do not translate well into Spanish or Hmong. - The panel calls for changes in how peer support specialists are trained and reimbursed, including reforming state background restrictions that can block qualified people from the work. - Malik urges lawmakers to "Encourage harm reduction." - The episode closes with the message that harm reduction is compassion and hope.

Between the lines: - The launch is also a statement about who gets to lead overdose prevention work. - By centering Black and Brown organizers, Samad's House is arguing that representation is part of effectiveness, not just optics. - The focus on housing and Medicaid shows the network sees overdose prevention as tied to basic stability, not just rescue tools. - The emphasis on lived experience suggests traditional systems have not reached many of the people most at risk.

What's next: - The network is expected to push outreach, training and policy advocacy across the Midwest. - Samad's House wants more community distribution of naloxone, test strips and harm reduction education. - Malik and the panel said they also plan to keep pressing lawmakers on funding, access and stigma reduction. - Samad's House directs readers to its July newsletter, donation page and website at samadshouse.org.

The bottom line: - Samad's House is betting that harm reduction works best when the people leading it reflect the communities most affected by overdose.