Barry Lessin Contributes to “Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming” (2nd Edition)

Barry Lessin is honored to be featured in Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming: Stories of Radically Loving People Who Use Drugs (2nd Edition), edited by Dee Dee Stout with Joe Clifford. This groundbreaking collection continues to advance the national dialogue on harm reduction, compassion, and the human stories that shape recovery. Barry’s contribution reflects his decades-long commitment to person-centered, science-based approaches to substance use and his deep belief in the power of empathy to drive meaningful change.

About the Book

Originally published over 15 years ago, Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming was one of the first books to bridge harm reduction and traditional recovery models. The new edition expands that vision, amplifying the voices of people across the United States who have embraced harm reduction in their lives, families, and communities.

Through more than forty first-person stories, the book illustrates how love, connection, and courage replace stigma and “tough love” approaches that too often isolate those struggling with addiction. Stout and Clifford bring together perspectives from clinicians, advocates, policy leaders, and people who use drugs — showing that harm reduction is as much about humanity as it is about health.

Barry’s Contribution

Barry’s profile appears in the book’s new section exploring harm reduction for families and couples. His contribution highlights the evolution of his own practice — and his personal journey toward embracing harm reduction as a compassionate and evidence-based philosophy of care.

“I’m deeply honored to have my profile included in Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming: A Memoir of Healing (2nd Edition), edited by Dee Dee Stout. Dee Dee’s original edition was a major inspiration for me during my own transition to becoming a harm reduction psychologist, so it’s especially meaningful to now be part of this new volume. My hope is that my contribution will help inspire others to embrace harm reduction approaches to treatment more widely, so that individuals and families have greater access to the science-based, person-centered care they deserve.”  ~Barry Lessin

Why This Book Matters

Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming captures the voices of those working at the heart of harm reduction — from parents and partners to front-line providers. At a time when the conversation around addiction is shifting toward compassion and science, this collection offers hope, evidence, and authenticity.

The book’s focus on family and community relationships aligns closely with Barry’s work, underscoring how healing happens through empathy, understanding, and connection rather than punishment or shame.

Coming to Harm Reduction, Kicking and Screaming: Stories of Radically Loving People Who Use Drugs (2nd Edition)
By Dee Dee Stout, MA, and Joe Clifford, MFA
Published by Square Tire Books, March 5, 2025
ISBN: 978-1-960725-21-9