Drug Checking & Harm Reduction Advocate

PEERS Alliance; Charlottetown; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

PEERS Alliance in Charlottetown, PEI, is seeking a Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker to support people who use unregulated substances. The role focuses on drug checking services, information sharing, and outreach at the Urgent Public Health Needs Site, with training provided in immunoassay test strips and FTIR spectroscopy.

The position requires 40 hours per week, evenings and weekends as needed, with travel across PEI and a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Educational accreditation in social sciences, health/health sciences, social work, or an equivalent combination.
• 2+ years experience working with vulnerable populations using a collaborative, person-centered approach and/or trauma informed practice.
• Experience working respectfully with people who use drugs and/or people who experience marginalization.
• Strong analytical/critical-thinking skills and an interest in learning the technical aspects of drug checking.
• Science or technical background will be considered an asset.
• Comfortable learning new technologies, software, and technical processes.
• Ability to use sound judgment, maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries, and respond effectively in complex or urgent situations.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple areas of responsibility, manage competing priorities, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to make complex or technical information understandable and accessible.
• Knowledge of cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, anti-racism, decolonization, and the impacts of stigma and systemic barriers.
• A valid driver’s license and clear driver’s abstract

Responsibilities

• For Drug Checking Services: Provide drug checking services using immunoassay test strips and FTIR spectroscopy technology.
• Interpret and communicate drug checking results and provide relevant harm reduction information to participants.
• Track drug checking data and contribute to project reports, public health information, and other resources about the local drug supply.
• Monitor drug checking results for changes in the local drug supply, unusual findings, and emerging substances.
• Develop and distribute informational resources on drug checking technologies and services to a variety of audiences.
• For UPHNS Office Support: Maintain a safe and welcoming environment using trauma informed practices for low-barrier harm reduction and health promotion work with people who use unregulated substances and/or who are experiencing homelessness.
• Build rapport with people who consume unregulated substances and/or who are experiencing homelessness and other forms of marginalization through a collaborative, person-centered approach, grounded in harm reduction.
• Gather and provide information about community and public services related to housing, substance use, health, employment, education, recreation, and social services to best direct participants.
• Facilitate participant directed goal setting and priority planning with community members regularly visiting the UPHNS, in collaboration with PEERS colleagues and project partners when possible.
• Provide general office and inventory upkeep; ensure personal care items and harm reduction supplies are stocked, tidy high traffic areas between participants, log material distribution and participant interactions appropriately.
• For Harm Reduction Education and Support: Provide harm reduction education in a variety of formats including one-on-one education, workshops in group settings, skills-building sessions, demonstrations, and other formats as necessary.
• Facilitate overdose prevention and response training for program participants and service providers.
• Support the distribution of sterile drug use equipment from fixed site and community outreach settings.
• Educate community members on proper disposal of used drug use equipment and collect waste in fixed site and community outreach settings.
• Stay up to date on relevant issues and best practices in harm reduction such as engaging people who use unregulated substances in programs/services, substance use trends, STBBI prevention with people who use drugs, wound care etc.
• For Mobile Harm Reduction Outreach: Build trust and rapport by visiting public spaces, camps, and other areas known to be frequented by people sleeping and living rough with survival equipment, personal care items, harm reduction supplies/services.
• Utilize the organizational vehicle to provide harm reduction support, such as material distribution, waste collection, and drug checking in community settings.
• Offer de-escalation and crisis response interventions in community settings – including overdose – within scope and as appropriate, bridging to external emergency response services as needed.
• Work to connect participants to external services through referrals, appointment reminders, transportation support, and by facilitating collaboration between participants and external service providers.
• Maintain timely and accurate outreach logs to support a team-based approach to participant engagement, advocacy, and support work.
• Other: Support project reporting and evaluation activities through the collection, management, and reporting of anonymized data.

Education

Social sciences / health sciences / social work degree orDiploma

Job description

PEERS Alliance in Charlottetown, PEI, is seeking a Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker to support people who use unregulated substances. The role focuses on drug checking services, information sharing, and outreach at the Urgent Public Health Needs Site, with training provided in immunoassay test strips and FTIR spectroscopy.

The position requires 40 hours per week, evenings and weekends as needed, with travel across PEI and a valid driver’s license.