JOLT Harm Reduction

Every milestone in recovery is a victory! Whether it’s a day, a month, or a year, each step forward deserves to be celebrated. Share your milestones and let’s cheer each other on!

This Friday our Peer Led Trans Support group will be hosting a game night! Anyone who is trans, non binary or gender non conforming is more than welcome to come 💛

We hope to see you there!

Mental health is a crucial aspect of recovery. This week, we’re highlighting the connection between mental health and substance use recovery. Let’s break the stigma and support those who are healing, regardless of whether on not they use drugs or are abstinent.

A powerful video from Broken No More with support from Vital Strategies of three women who have lost loved ones to overdose. In this video, they describe the pain and grief of their loss compounded by the unwarranted stigma associated with death by overdose. These courageous women call for all of us to work together to end overdose by supporting the life-saving programs of Harm Reduction and by rejecting the policies of criminalization and incarceration that have accomplished nothing but more than 100,000 overdose deaths a year.

For more information on how to end overdose and to join us in this movement to save lives, please visit: https://broken-no-more.org/

End Overdose Now! Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones Call for Life-Saving Harm Reduction, Not Prison A powerful video from Broken No More with support from Vital Strategies of three women who have lost loved ones to overdose. In this video, they describe the...

Unfortunately our Monday night peer group is cancelled for this week.

We still have our Tuesday and Thursday Recovery groups as well our Thursday night peer group.

If you need support or have any questions, please feel free to reach out! 🫶

UIC Mobile unit is here at JOLT today.

We're so excited to announce that we are partnering with UIC College of Nursing to bring STI testing and treatment to Peoria and rural communities by their mobile health unit!

As of right now, they are only seeing AFAB individuals (assigned female at birth) but will be able to see everyone soon.

Here's a list of days they will be parked at JOLT in their mobile unit:

Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30

SO come stop by and get tested! You and your health matters 🫶🫶🫶🫶

Recovery takes many forms. Harm reduction is an essential part of the journey for many. Learn how harm reduction approaches can support and sustain recovery, as each individual defines recovery.

We're so excited to announce that we are partnering with UIC College of Nursing to bring STI testing and treatment to Peoria and rural communities by their mobile health unit!

As of right now, they are only seeing AFAB individuals (assigned female at birth) but will be able to see everyone soon.

Here's a list of days they will be parked at JOLT in their mobile unit:

Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30

SO come stop by and get tested! You and your health matters 🫶🫶🫶🫶

No one should walk the path of recovery alone. Community support is key. Let’s recognize the vital role that families, friends, and support groups play in recovery. How has community support impacted your journey?

Harm reduction and the recovery movement are often seen as two sides of the same coin, but it’s crucial to understand that harm reduction is not merely a funnel to drive people into recovery. The core goal of harm reduction is to empower individuals with the resources and education they need to mitigate potential harms associated with substance use—regardless of whether they ever choose to pursue recovery.

Harm reduction respects autonomy, offering non-judgmental support that meets people where they are. It's about providing practical tools and information to reduce risks, like overdose prevention, safer use practices, and access to healthcare.

At the same time, we recognize that for some, harm reduction can serve as a pathway to recovery. By creating a safe and supportive environment, harm reduction often opens the door for individuals to explore recovery on their terms. However, this is not the primary objective—harm reduction is valid and important in its own right, whether or not someone chooses to enter the recovery lifestyle. If someone tells you that the end result of harm reduction should be to get people into recovery (i.e., abstinent), they are not practicing true harm reduction.

Both harm reduction and recovery play vital roles in supporting those who use substances, and each individual's journey is unique. Together, they form a compassionate and comprehensive approach to substance use and well-being.

The League of Women Voters will be at JOLT today starting at 12 to help people register to vote!

Stop on by and come see the JOLT fam AND get registered to vote in the same visit. Your vote AND voice matters!

Recovery is possible, and every journey is unique. This week, we’re sharing powerful stories of individuals who have found hope and healing. Share your story or tag someone who inspires you.

September is National Recovery Month! Join us in celebrating the strength, resilience, and recovery journeys of those who have overcome substance use challenges. Let’s raise awareness and support each other in this journey.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31st each year to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding substance use, and promote evidence-based actions that save lives. It’s a day of reflection and action as communities unite to honor loved ones while advocating for better policies and support systems.

In observance of this day, JOLT Harm Reduction is hosting a Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Walk on Saturday, August 31st at 6 p.m. at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin, Illinois. Join us as we come together to remember those we've lost, support families impacted by overdose, and advocate for change. Your presence makes a difference. 💜💜💜

https://www.facebook.com/events/520073753739133/

We're having Soulside Healing Arts back to host yoga at our Recovery Cafe!

Make sure to come stop by and practice mindfulness and breathwork with us, we'd love to have you! ☀️🧖‍♂️❤️

🎉 A huge THANK YOU to the City of Peoria and Mayor Rita Ali for officially proclaiming August 31st as International Overdose Awareness Day! 🌟 Your support for harm reduction and overdose prevention is a vital step toward saving lives and building a healthier, more compassionate community. Together, we can make a difference! 💜

Every first Sunday of the month, our Recovery Cafe will have a sober social!

September's Social will be 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Lawn Olympics!!

We'll have bags, pillow sack race, three legged race and more!! Did we mention prizes?? 👀👀👀👀👀

Please be sure to save the date for September 1st! Come hang, play some games, create community and win prizes.

If you work in health care or health care adjacent, join us tomorrow for this important webinar.

Register here: https://illinois.webex.com/weblink/register/r7c7995c1d061181b7749adb8f9f9d6a2

This week will be a hot one! Dream Center Peoria will be a cooling and safety center for our city this week during the rising heat temperatures.
If you see a lady, child, fathering dad or family out in the heat, direct them to our building. Thank you for guiding people to us during this time!

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714 HAMILTON BLVD, PEORIA IL
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If you want to help with the 24hr service we provide everyday of the year to our homeless guests please visit dreamcenterpeoria.org/give
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And if you see a single male please direct them to Pathway Ministries 601 SW Adams, Peoria.

JOLT's newest support group is just for family members who love someone that uses drugs. Join us at 6pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month at JOLT's Recovery Cafe.

Tonight our Peer Led Trans Group will be meeting at Imago!

Have a hyperfixation and wanna share it with some friends? Come out tonight to talk about it and share it with the group! 👀💛

We can’t wait to see what everyone brings

Today (August 12th, 2024) is the last day to register for the GRASP Retreat and Conference. This retreat/conference is intended to provide grief support for people who have lost a loved one to substance use and to find support as we navigate our grief together.

So many of us have been impacted by the overdose crisis and due to the shame and stigma that often surrounds substance use we often lack supportive relationships and spaces to navigate our grief.

Please know that we see you and understand that unique grief and want to hold space for and with you. Please consider joining us this year in Albuquerque, NM.

GRASP Healing Hearts, Changing Paths A conference on navigating grief and shaping drug policy

ITS FRIDAY!!! 🫠💛
Everyone PLEASE have a good weekend and practice some self care!

What’s everyone’s plans for the weekend??

We gotta give a special shoutout to Heartland Health Services 🙌🏽 we already mentioned it in a previous post but look at these fabulous people who dropped off 18 WHOLE CASES OF WATER AND 70 DENTAL KITS for our folx yesterday!

JOLT is so honored for these special partnerships and we can’t thank you enough.

Thank you Trudy (our amazing RCO director and someone who wears many hats) for jumping in the pic with them too!

🚨 The War on Drugs has failed us all. It’s not just about rising overdose deaths and failed policies; it’s about a broken system that disproportionately targets people of color, devastates communities, and tears families apart. Over-policing and harsh penalties don’t solve problematic substance use—they deepen the crisis. The criminal justice system and child welfare system are both complicit, often exacerbating trauma rather than providing support.

At JOLT, we stand firmly against the War on Drugs. We believe in compassionate, evidence-based approaches like harm reduction, which save lives and support communities. It’s time for a shift towards solutions that work and truly heal. Join us in advocating for justice, reform, and a better future. 🌟

Come down to our peer led trans support group tonight for a clothing swap, crafts and pizza! 👀
6-8PM at Imago!

Just a reminder this is happening tonight! It'll be a super fun get together and an amazing moment to not only get educated on the trans community but to also socialize, make some friends and play games on a Friday night! If you can bring a snack we'd appreciate you but there's no obligation! See ya soon.

We've received incredible feedback and support for our Peer-Led Trans Support group, and it's truly heartwarming! While we're grateful for the encouragement from our cisgender allies, we want to ensure that our group remains a safe haven for the trans community. To celebrate this inclusivity, we've decided to organize a special Trans Ally Night. This event is an opportunity for everyone to come together, engage in social activities, play games, and enjoy some snacks!

During Trans Ally Night, we'll also be featuring a Q&A session where members of our trans community will address pre-approved questions. It's a chance to foster understanding and strengthen our bonds. As we gather on Friday, let's maintain a spirit of respect for each other's space, boundaries, and well-being. Attached is a Google Form that would help us gauge everyone's need for this! We'd also greatly appreciate anyone that could bring snacks/refreshments! Please reach out to us if you'd like to donate something. We're eagerly looking forward to seeing everyone there!

https://forms.gle/8MgxgwbBiMXLG4q78

Holiday Hours!