At the Allegheny County Jail’s (ACJ) Re-Entry Center, a Harm Reduction Class is available for incarcerated individuals with substance use issues. Diversion Coordinator Ronele Thomas and instructor Tess Fiorentino lead the class twice a week in a room on Level 1. Residents sit in a circle to learn and support each other. The program is a partnership with Pathway to Care and Recovery, a local recovery service. Thomas started the class after discussions with Re-Entry Director Amy Kroll and former Deputy Warden Connie Clark. She holds degrees from Point Park University and a Drug and Alcohol certification from CCAC.
The class began two years ago and is now a regular part of the Re-Entry Center. According to the Centers for Disease Control, overdoses are the leading injury-related cause of death in the U.S., with nearly 108,000 deaths in 2022. Many people who need treatment do not receive it, which highlights the need for harm reduction programs.
The Harm Reduction Class differs from abstinence-based programs. It aims to reduce stigma and help participants make safer choices, regardless of their readiness to stop using substances. Fiorentino says the class removes judgment and encourages participants to consider change…