Community Updates

Harm Reduction: Panel Discussion

ABOUT THE PANALISTS:

Ryan Cuddy, SUDP, Quil Ceda Creek Counseling Company. Ryan helps individuals with substance use disorders and specializes in medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD). He also has experience in residential treatment and was the assistant director of North Sound Behavioral Treatment Center for two years. Ryan has his own lived experience and is in recovery from opioids. Ryan has a unique understanding of both sides of treatment and the judicial system.

Jessica Thornton, Program Manager, Sound Pathways Harm Reduction Center. Jessica’s experience with the healing and supportive powers of harm reduction started when she was a drug user from 2012 to 2016. During this time, she received services ranging from clean supplies, referrals to community supports, education about safe use, avoiding infectious disease, naloxone, and probably one of the most impactful services – the peer support from staff. Now Jessica works professionally in harm reduction at Sound Pathways as the Program Manager in the Harm Reduction Center.

Gina Wassemiller, Parent Ally, F.I.R.S.T Legal Clinic, and social service worker with the Office of Public Defense Parent Representation Program. Gina is a current member of Snohomish County’s Table of Ten and a former facilitator for Snohomish County Parent Ally Committee. Gina has many years of experience working directly with families involved in the child welfare system to overcome obstacles and reach a positive outcome. She is a survivor of domestic violence and a recovering addict. She meets parents where they are and instills hope in each parent she works with.

April Provost, Community Outreach Manager, Ideal Option. April works to build community partnerships with agencies, organizations, services, and the general population. Her passion to be of service to the community stems from lived experience in active addiction, homelessness, criminal charges, domestic violence, hopelessness, the backlash of stigma and shunning by community. If it had not been for many of the harm reduction services, she may never have found her way out. One size does not fit all in the recovery process and April is committed to finding best practices.

Erin Lopez, Peer Outreach Specialist, Ideal Option. Erin began her recovery journey in December 2022. In 2023, she joined the Snohomish County Diversion Center as a Health Care Coordinator and earned certifications as a peer counselor and recovery coach. Since then, Erin has been working at Ideal Option, connecting with the community and individuals facing substance use challenges, helping them discover their own paths to recovery.

PARTICIPANTS WILL:

Hear from people who have used harm reduction both personally and professionally

Learn about the full spectrum of techniques that harm reduction can encompass, and how harm reduction can be used in a variety of settings

Have an opportunity to ask questions about how harm reduction works in real life

Learn about ways to make harm reduction work well for them