we take care of each other

Below Sea Level Aid is a community-driven harm reduction organization dedicated to supporting our neighbors in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the surrounding parishes. Our mission is to meet people where they are, advocating for their autonomy and empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

how we help

  • Redux Magazine is dedicated to advancing social justice with the power of informed dialogue and critical research. Our online magazine serves as a platform for voices advocating for harm reduction, abolition, and transformative justice. We aim for a more equitable society by publishing insightful articles, research studies, and personal narratives that challenge the status quo.

  • Neutral Ground is a community outreach program, designed to ensure that harm reduction supplies and essential resources are accessible to those who need them most. With multiple distribution sites set up across New Orleans, Neutral Ground allows community members to pick up vital items such as naloxone, sterile syringes, safer smoking kits, bus passes, clothing, and hygiene supplies—wherever is most convenient for them.

  • PARISH prioritizes harm reduction through education and direct services. The program provides individuals with tools and knowledge to test substances for adulterants, including fentanyl and other potential contaminants. By promoting safer supply and safer use practices, PARISH empowers community members to make informed decisions about their substance use.

  • Lagniappe is a health services program, dedicated to providing accessible and low-barrier healthcare resources to the community. The program offers free rapid HIV and STI testing, ensuring individuals receive timely and confidential results. Beyond testing, Lagniappe facilitates linkage to care, connecting individuals with medical providers, treatment options, and ongoing support.

  • PEL is designed to support individuals transitioning back into society after incarceration. Recognizing the significant barriers faced by returning citizens, PEL provides financial assistance to cover essential identification documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, and state IDs—key resources needed to secure employment, housing, and healthcare.

Why We do this work

Respect for Individual Autonomy

Recognizing that people make their own choices, harm reduction supports safer practices without judgment or coercion.

Non-Judgmental Services

Providing services and resources in a manner that does not impose moral judgment or pressure on individuals.

Inclusive and Collaborative Approaches

Involving individuals with lived experience and the communities served in the design and delivery of harm reduction programs.

FACILITATED TRAININGS

These harm reduction trainings are offered free of charge to community members, organizations, and service providers to ensure that life-saving knowledge and resources are accessible to all. Trainings can be conducted in-person or virtually.

Peer Support & Outreach Training

This training equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses effectively.

Overdose Prevention & Naloxone Distribution

This workshop focuses on improving interactions with people who have experienced trauma, particularly those who use drugs or face structural oppression.