We are looking for an individual who has experience working with vulnerable populations and is passionate about empowering people and communities through education and information sharing.

At PEERS Alliance, our work is based in trauma-informed practice and harm reduction. We support those living with and at risk for HIV, Hep C and all sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections by offering a variety of programs and services targeted to diverse communities in PEI. We serve people of all genders and sexual orientations. We support those who use drugs in developing strategies to reduce the risk of negative health outcomes. Our programming strives to address the underlying issues affecting the health and welfare of our communities by countering stigma and creating environments where all are welcome.

PEERS Alliance as an organization and its employees must strive to be anti-racist at all times, in all aspects of our work. We are an organization that values team collaboration, work-life balance, and self-care. The work we do can be heavy and complex, and we prioritize wellness for our employees.

The Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker will provide services and support to people who use unregulated/street sourced substances across PEI, but work will primarily occur at the Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) hosted in Charlottetown, PE. The Urgent Public Health Needs Site also provides service navigation and basic needs support for people experiencing homelessness.

Although technical experience and/or a science background will be considered an asset, you do not need to come into this position already knowing how to operate drug checking equipment. We are looking for someone with strong organizational, analytic,



and communication skills – who is committed to harm reduction – and is interested in developing the technical skills required for the role. Training in drug checking technologies and methods will be provided.

The Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker's role will include:

- Expanding awareness and engagement with drug checking services through work with various/diverse audiences
- Develop drug checking informational resources for various audiences, deliver education on drug checking tools to community members, and provide drug checking services with immunoassay test strips and FTIR Spectrometer.
- Delivering harm reduction programs and drop-in services, including drug checking utilizing immunoassay test strips and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy technologies, from the Urgent Public Health Needs Site hosted in Charlottetown
- Maintain a safe and welcoming office space for participants to access personal care and harm reduction supplies, while offering service navigation support and access to health promotion services.
- Providing harm reduction education and services in work with people who consume unregulated/street sourced substances
- Provide harm reduction information, education, and resources to community members and service providers through nonjudgmental approaches.




- Supporting mobile harm reduction outreach efforts in community settings.
- Provide direct harm reduction and health promotion outreach activities in community settings with individuals who consume unregulated substances and/or are experiencing homelessness.

This position will include occasional work on evenings and weekends. As travel between Island communities may be required, access to a reliable means of transportation is essential. This position requires a valid license (3+ years licensed).

Responsibilities:

For Drug Checking Services

- Provide drug checking services using immunoassay test strips and Fourier Transform Infrared (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 protected 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.<

📌 Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker (Canada)
🏢 PEERS Alliance
📍 Canada