Celia, embraced by the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, the Senso-ji Temple

Japan only approves abstinence-approach treatment programs (hospital based, community based, and peer-led). The hospital-based program under the Matrix Model is the only one covered by health insurance. They have no free clinics and nurse practitioner system clinics, and some clinics only provide alcohol treatment. Not surprisingly, many patients end up dropping out before the completion of the program.

The two-day seminar consisted of lectures about the philosophy and history of harm reduction and practice methods of harm reduction therapy as well as small group discussions. Discussions focused on practicing harm reduction therapy under a multidisciplinary model, collaborating with other community organizations, implementing harm reduction model in different settings in the community, promoting acceptance, kindness, and compassion to eliminate stigma and guilt. It was funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and was organized by the Department of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry. 

Dr. Ayumi Takano, Celia Sampayo Perez,

Dr. Toshihiko Matsumoto,

Jeannie Little and Patt Denning

Celebrating in community at the end

of the seminar with the participants.

The group discussions were very supportive and empowering. Most participants said they never were part of a group with other care providers who were experiencing similar frustrations of not being able to help their clients more who only had abstinence-approach programs making them quickly fail, increase their shame, stigma, and guilt, and no coming back to treatment. 

“You also reminded me of the fantastic spirits of people living in the Bay Area who are making efforts to change society for the better, which was so inspiring and made me want to go back there again. I wish to visit you to learn more about Harm Reduction practices in the near future. I will do my best to ensure that the seeds you gave me grow into large, gorgeous flowers in Japan.” -Shiori Tsutsumi

This experience reminded me how lucky we are providing services in San Francisco which for many years has been a pioneer in defending people’s human and civil rights, educating people on alternative treatments besides abstinence-approach, and offering dignity to the most vulnerable people while helping them stay connected within the community. It also reminded me that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to continue protecting our communities from the enemies of social justice and promoting life with dignity for all.

During it's April 22, 2023 meeting the Board of Directors

voted in new officers. We thank them, and all our Board members,

for supporting our community with their service.

Please click HERE to get to know all members of

our Board of Directors a little better.

Eileen Norman, President

Sam Dennison, Chair

San Francisco is known for being a beacon of hope, sanctuary and expression. The City has always been ahead of the curve with innovative policies focused on social justice, human rights, economics and technology. A beacon of hope! This April, Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor London Breed announced they would shepard San Francisco back into a War on Drugs, choosing to abandon courageous leadership focused on solutions and instead adopt failed policies and political grandstanding. 

On April 21, the Governor and Mayor announced that the National Guard and California Highway Patrol would use their resources to target the sale of fentanyl in the Tenderloin and SOMA neighborhoods of San Francisco. The stated goal is to reduce drug trafficking and overdose in San Francisco. But criminalization increases stigma and exacerbates overdose deaths. By the City’s own admission, arrest rates for drug possession and sales have increased during the first quarter of 2023 and overdose deaths have more than doubled during this time. Those arrested, and those who will be targeted by the arrival of the National Guard and CHP, are likely to be disproportionately black or brown people and those struggling to meet their basic needs in a City that continues to see exponential housing costs.  

Overdose deaths doubled during early 2023, timed exactly with the closure of the Tenderloin Center in December 2022. Although hastily assembled, the Tenderloin Center offered a safe place for people who use drugs to come and access services, including overdose reversal care. According to the SF Chronicle, more than 300 overdoses were reversed at the Tenderloin Center during its operating period and there were no onsite deaths. The war on people who use drugs has never worked. It disproportionately targets people of color and seeks to control via force, a direct inheritance from American slavery. To date, no one has died from drug overdoses at overdose prevention or safe consumption sites. San Francisco leaders are doing little to help prevent people dying in their homes and on the streets, choosing instead to engage in racist, failed policies and political posturing.

Please join HRTC in a call to action to end the criminalization of people who use drugs. Join us in demanding safe consumption sites and compassionate treatment services for all. How? Click HERE to Check out a community-driven Action Guide.

Thank you,

HRTC’s Leadership Team

Marsha Davison ASW, Community Based Therapist



Being a transgender (trans) person or gender non-conforming (GNC) person in America is difficult and very taxing on a number of levels. 

Plagued by ongoing discrimination that has led to higher rates of unemployment and homelessness within this subset of the population, the SF trans/GNC community has partnered with other community groups and allies to come together to make the lives of trans/GNC residents of San Francisco a little bit safer and a little bit more stable by opening Taimon Booton, a trans/GNC navigation center where residents can temporarily live and receive much-needed services: such as case management, housing referrals, medical services, and therapy. 

As an organization dedicated to meeting the behavioral health needs of vulnerable and neglected communities in SF, HRTC was recruited to provide therapy and behavioral health services at Taimon Booton. In keeping with our low threshold model, therapists camp out at the picnic tables in the community area to check-in with residents, provide crisis intervention, and engage in individual therapy with residents as needed. Currently, we offer services on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2pm-5pm. Because of a shortage of therapists, there are only two team members assigned to Taimon Booton; these are Nathan Kamps Hughes, MPH, LCSW and Marsha Davison, ACSW. 

According to Marsha, Taimon Booton is a unique environment. On the outside it looks like a nondescript group of trailers linked together, but on the inside, there is an open space with picnic tables and a shaded garden space where residents can sit peacefully or socialize. Potted plants adorn the outside, and there is a community dining area and TV lounge. Since private space is limited, we often end up conducting therapy sessions in the tiny medical clinic, food pantry, or quiet room. If those spaces aren't available, we have done therapy outside at the picnic tables while fighting the elements of rain, heavy winds, or intense sunshine; but it's been worth it. We are slowly building therapeutic relationships with some of the residents and offering (both) the residents and staff an opportunity to check-in and process events and experiences that can be draining. In an ever-changing space with an ever-changing group of residents, HRTC will continue to support this site and the clients we have met there.

Picnic tables at Taimon Booton where Marsha and Nathan sometimes conduct therapy sessions

Thank you so much to those who offered your condolences and support after our 21 Merlin Street building flooded on December 31, 2022. We especially appreciate the donations of socks, hand warmers and cell phone chargers we received for clients; we put them to use immediately. Thank you harm reduction community!



On our Wishlist: Popcorn, Hygiene Kits, Coffee, Hand Warmers, Socks, Gloves & Hats

HRTC received solar chargers from Unite to Light in 2020 and 2021. The positive impact of these chargers on our clients’ access to follow up and emergency care was significant and immediate. Our clients were able to secure housing, follow up on prescriptions, secure benefits and employment, and for more than a few of them, call for 911 care when their life was threatened by violence.

May 15th-21st is our Buy One, Give One sale with Unite to Light. That means if you purchase the BOGO product on Unite to Light's website, you will be donating one to our fundraiser AND you will receive one.

Please help us reach our goal of 50 chargers

When: Friday, August 18th, 2023 , 4:30pm-9:00pm

Where: 21 Merlin Street, San Francisco

What: A harm reduction community building chill time

We hope you can join us for food, music and great harm reduction conversation!