Minnesota administration allocates funds for harm reduction supplies

The administration of Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has directed millions of dollars in grants toward harm reduction initiatives. Among the recipients is Southside Harm Reduction Services, a nonprofit organization that provides supplies such as syringes, sterile water, and drug cookers to promote the health and wellbeing of drug users.

The funding is part of a larger $100 million grant program aimed at addressing homelessness and supporting Minnesotans in need. Southside Harm Reduction Services also provides kits for rectal drug administration, a practice often referred to as ‘boofing.’ These kits include supplies such as lubricant to facilitate the ingestion of substances like heroin, methamphetamine, and ketamine.

While the organization describes these methods as a way to reach the bloodstream quickly and efficiently, the practice remains a subject of debate among harm reduction advocates. Critics note that because drugs bypass the digestive system to enter the bloodstream rapidly, the practice can increase the risk of fatal overdoses.