Episode 44 - Mark Jachym - Harm Reduction in the StreetsEpisode 44 - Mark Jachym - Harm Reduction in the Streets
Full Potential, Now! Podcast
What does harm reduction really look like when yo…
50:13•14 Jul 2026
Harm Reduction on the Street: Meeting People Where They’re At
Episode Overview
- Harm reduction is framed as keeping people alive and safer today, rather than forcing abstinence before they’re ready.
- Meeting people where they are – including accepting ongoing use – can build trust and eventually lead some to seek treatment.
- Many everyday safety measures like seatbelts, helmets and sunscreen are forms of harm reduction, challenging the idea that it’s something new or extreme.
- Language and harsh judgements about "drug users" can stop loved ones from feeling safe enough to ask for help.
- There are multiple support paths beyond 12-step groups, including therapy, medical support, community resources and family-focused groups.
“"The only thing I enable is that they live to see tomorrow."”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation between host Ted Izydor and harm reduction coordinator Mark Yakom takes you right to the kerbside, where theory meets cold, messy reality. Mark shares his own history of alcohol and drug use, arrests, involuntary commitment under Section 35 in Massachusetts, and a suicide attempt, then explains how recovery since April 2015 led him to street outreach work.
He’s blunt about his purpose: he’s not out there to "get people sober" on his timetable. Instead, "My goal… is just to let them know that I'm around. I'm available if they need something." You’ll hear how harm reduction looks day-to-day: handing out naloxone and fentanyl test strips, offering safer use supplies, giving people jackets, food and water, and, most of all, patience. One standout story follows a homeless veteran Mark checked in on over months.
At first, the man wanted nothing to do with treatment. Almost a year later he walked into Mark’s office and said, "I'm ready now. I can't do this anymore." Because Mark hadn’t pushed or lectured, the door was still open. The episode also tackles stigma head-on.
Mark points out that people call harm reduction "enabling" while happily using their own harm reduction tools every day: "If people tell me that they're 100% against harm reduction… I want you to take all the batteries out of your smoke detectors… then I'll believe that you're totally against harm reduction." He and Ted also talk about families, language, and how harsh comments can stop loved ones from asking for help.
If you’ve ever wondered whether harm reduction really saves lives or just "lets people keep using", this honest, boots-on-the-ground chat might give you a fresh angle. How could meeting people where they’re at change the way you think about recovery?
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