Living with harm : the impact of the LEAD program and new strategies of drug intervention in Seattle

This thesis discusses the LEAD program as a response to mass incarceration resulting from the U.S. War on Drugs. LEAD is a pre-booking, harm-reduction diversion program that operates through the Seattle Police Department, redirects chronic drug users and drug-related criminal activity, and addresses three major areas of life to encourage behavioral change among clients: personal relationships and support, housing, and changes in individual-police relations. Using in-depth interview and participant observation data, I mine LEAD client narratives to identify and describe turning points in users’ lived experiences of addiction, homelessness, and recovery, and consider their perspectives on harm-reduction services broadly.