DFW Harm Reduction Education Access Movement is an organization serving the community in the Fort Worth area and removing the dangers and stigmas related to drug use. They provide supplies and education to those who need it. I’m excited that Brett and Paige have agreed to share their founding, current projects, and future goals for their local community.
Grayson Mask: How did this organization begin? And how did you both get interested in harm reduction in the first place?
Brett: Growing up in Texas, you’re always exposed to some sort of substance. As I went through life, I noticed that a lot of my close friends and family members were putting themselves in danger with those substances. I started to read up on different substances to get a deeper understanding of them. I came across the term “harm reduction” in a book titled Drug Use for Grown-Ups. It briefly discussed harm reduction, and that opened the floodgates for me. I spent the next year or so looking for a harm reduction group, but because of the state of harm reduction organizations in Texas, it was challenging.
In Texas, harm reduction is very grassroots. Unlike some states that have an official office of harm reduction, Texas doesn’t have that kind of structure. So, whoever is providing these services and helping people is really all there is. I reached out to a couple of organizations here in Dallas, but I didn’t hear back from anyone for almost a year. That’s generally how it can be with harm reduction in Texas, because the state looks down upon it. There are laws and policies in place that don’t protect those who are trying to help people using substances. It can be difficult to get into these circles because everyone is a bit guarded, and rightfully so. There are strict paraphernalia laws on many of the materials that these groups provide, which could get them into trouble. At first, I wondered why no one was asking for help. But as I got more involved, I realized they needed a vetting system to make sure the people they welcome into their circle are trustworthy. That’s what brought me to DREAM. DREAM was started three years ago by our founder, Stevie. She created DREAM after moving to DFW and realizing there was nothing here. She took it upon herself to create DREAM out of her living room. And that’s where we kicked off. I’ll let Paige share her story now.
Paige: For me, addiction has run in my family for many generations on both sides. I grew up in a tiny town in East Texas, where addiction and substance use, not even just addiction but substance use in general, are pretty common. I saw firsthand what people were going through, even through my own experiences as someone who has used different substances. When I moved to Dallas, I was looking to get more involved in the community. I started volunteering with a now-defunct group that worked with the local unhoused population. I noticed that substance use and the unhoused community are closely connected. I had to emotionally come to terms with meeting people where they are. A friend of mine, who was on and off with heroin addiction, taught me a lot about this. Instead of being upset when they relapsed, I focused on meeting them where they were. It taught me to love someone through it without expectations and to provide them with the resources they need to stay safe until they’re ready to move forward. When that group shut down, I started looking for a new place to volunteer and found DREAM. I began volunteering with DREAM and joined the board shortly after. I joined last April, and it’s consumed my life ever since.
Grayson Mask: I saw on your Instagram page that you recently did a tabling or giveaway at Zoey Lane Fort Worth. How do you decide where to do tablings? Are there locations that are better than others? How do you find people who might need your services?
Paige: Zoey Lane is actually our monthly free store in Fort Worth, named after one of our board members who passed away. It just depends on where we can get in. We work not only with the unhoused but also with people in the local community who need help. This includes college kids and working people who might not seem like they need our services. We table at various events, like bars or festivals if we’re invited. We keep an eye on where we can fit in, and each tabling event is different and unique. It depends on the community and where we’re going. Fort Worth is more street-focused, while downtown Dallas is a bit different. We try to find the most affected areas where we can safely operate. Sometimes we’ve moved the Zoey Lane free store four or five times around the same block due to police activity or other changes.
Grayson Mask: I was curious about some of the things you offer at these tabling events. I know you have an Amazon wishlist, for example. Can you tell us more about what you provide?
Paige: Hygiene items are definitely at the top of the list. Everyone likes to feel fresh and clean. When you’re sleeping on the streets and have limited access to a bathroom or shower, having something to freshen up is really valuable. So, hygiene items are definitely at the top.
Brett: Yeah, I would honestly put hygiene items above food. Don’t get me wrong, people need food, but there’s something about having baby wipes or hygiene products—they’re probably some of the first items to go. It’s hygiene products, wound care, sunscreen, and bug spray.
People don’t like feeling dirty or gross, being sunburned, or getting eaten up by bugs. I think that’s something people often take for granted.
Grayson Mask: That makes sense. Speaking of things that might be taken for granted, you often mention on your page the phrase “never use alone” as harm reduction. For anyone curious or who doesn’t understand what that means, could you explain it?
Paige: Sure. “Never use alone” is a concept that’s very important to us, especially given our organization’s personal experiences with the opioid crisis and losing friends to overdose. Using alone increases the risk of overdosing because there’s no one there to call 911, administer Narcan, or provide help if something goes wrong. It’s crucial to have someone with you who can respond if needed. We always say, “Do slow and low,” because you can always do more, but you can’t do less. Having someone there can make all the difference. However, we know it’s not always possible to have someone available. That’s why there are hotlines and apps that offer services to monitor you while you use. These services can contact emergency assistance if you’re in danger. We provide information about these resources on our website and Instagram to ensure people have access to help when needed.
Grayson Mask: Is it easy to test drugs for harmful substances like fentanyl? How do you educate people about that?
Brett: I’m a big proponent of having multiple tools for drug checking. It’s crucial because we’re not just in an overdose epidemic but a drug poisoning epidemic. People often don’t know what they’re taking. We work with a drug-checking lab at UNC that does GC-MS testing—Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. This testing measures different molecules in a sample to identify substances like fentanyl or xylazine. It’s a valuable service for those who want to take extra precautions.
We also strongly advocate for test strips, which are more accessible and affordable. These strips can test for specific substances, like fentanyl, to ensure a person knows what’s not in their drugs. Fentanyl test strips are as important as Narcan because they provide an immediate way to test substances and avoid potentially deadly overdoses. We encourage people to use all available tools. If you can’t send a sample for lab testing, take test strips and make sure you know what you’re consuming. We’re in a time where you just don’t know what you’re getting. For example, we know of a study on fake Adderall pills, which are often methamphetamine. This might be due to a cleaner synthesis of meth from Eastern Europe or the DEA cracking down on Adderall prescriptions, leading people to find alternatives.
Grayson Mask: I noticed that you guys collaborate a lot with Planned Parenthood. Can you tell me more about the connection between Planned Parenthood and harm reduction?
Paige: Harm reduction and healthcare are almost the same thing; there’s a huge overlap in what we do. It’s all about providing access to needed care, which aligns with many of the services Planned Parenthood offers. We try our best to connect people with as many community resources as we can because, at the end of the day, we as an organization can’t do everything. Planned Parenthood has been great so far. We’ve had good luck working with them, and they’ve been really supportive. A lot of the things we need, like Plan B, condoms, and period kits, are things they provide to us without any hassle. People often take these small items for granted, but they’re really essential. So, Planned Parenthood donates these resources to us, no questions asked, which helps us provide necessary items to those in need.
Grayson Mask: Given that you’ve been on this three-year journey, starting as a grassroots organization without many alternatives in the DFW area, are there any favorite moments or successes that have made you excited about this work?
Brett: I actually had a great experience this past weekend during our Zoey Lane event. Hearing how much people appreciate what we’re doing—it’s really rewarding. It’s hard to explain because we do this work as a selfless act. We’re not looking for pats on the back or rewards; we do it because it needs to be done. But when the people we serve express their gratitude and show that they understand the importance of the tools and services we provide, it really lights up my day. That’s why I do this work—to know that they feel seen and supported.
We’ve also collaborated with groups like the Texas Drug Users Health Alliance, which has been really motivating. Traveling to Austin for protests and working on broader plans for drug users in Texas has been a significant experience. It’s hard to pick just one moment because there’s fulfillment in every part of this work, even if it’s just assembling overdose kits at home. Knowing that these supplies will go to people who truly need them is incredibly satisfying.
Paige: I completely agree with Brett. It’s not about one specific moment but more about the overall experience. When I joined in April, Brett was doing most of the work on his own. We were scrambling to have access to Narcan and basic supplies. Now, with more collaborations and resources, we’re in a much better place. When we first started, people didn’t really know who we were. But now, like at Zoey Lane, people recognize us and even miss us when we’re not around. They’ve gone from calling us the “hippies” to referring to us as “the family,” which is really cool. Just last weekend, I had an experience that stands out. I met a guy a few months ago who tried to trick me out of free stuff, but now we have a great rapport. Over the weekend, he told me that he and his wife managed to get off the streets and into a new place. Its moments like these, celebrating those wins with the community, that are so motivating. It’s not just about helping them; it’s about seeing them make progress and getting out of difficult situations.
Grayson Mask: For my last question, what are the future steps or projects you guys are excited about for this year and next?
Paige: In a broader sense, we’re just trying to grow and be present in more spaces, fitting in wherever we can. We’re lucky to be involved in some great events, like the End Overdose Awareness event at the end of this month and the Medical Marijuana March in October. We’re planning more events with Planned Parenthood, too. Really, we’re just looking to double down and do as much as we can with the local community. It’s not one specific, exciting answer, but I think the best way to put it is that we’re aiming to get bigger and better with our community involvement. What do you think, Brett?
Brett: One specific project we’re hoping to make progress on is establishing Narcan vending machines. We’re in talks with some organizations about what that would look like and how to make Narcan more accessible. We’re also looking to expand our sharps exchange program, like our syringe exchange, to make that more accessible for the community as well. Those are some tangible goals we’re working towards, but on a larger scale, we definitely need more hands on deck to achieve these goals.
