Bridgetown: A Harm Reduction Novel

by Jordan P. Barnes

FINALIST, 2021 INDIES TODAY BOOK AWARDS

Harm reductionist Harley Hammond manages a dedicated team at the Bridgeworks Syringe Access Program in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Known as a pillar of compassion and hope, she fights for the rights and well-being of people who use drugs.
When a torrent of fentanyl-laced heroin floods a city already crippled by the failed War on Drugs, overdose preventions are overwhelmed and the Bridgeworks team rushes to put life-saving supplies into the hands of those who need them most. As fatal overdoses skyrocket, stigma, blame and fear further fuel an already volatile public health crisis. Risking her position and incarceration, Harley turns to dealers and unsanctioned risk reduction tactics in an attempt to not only “meet people where they’re at,” but ensure no one else gets left behind.
In the wake of his award-winning first book, One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery, Barnes dives into the pivotal role of harm reduction programs as they relate to human rights, mental health and social justice. From safer consumption spaces to safer drug use, and following a chilling record set for fatal overdoses in the US, Bridgetown: A Harm Reduction Novel is a found-family journey packed with empathy and urgency to follow the science and pathways proven to work.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

388 pages, ebook

First published March 6, 2022

About the author

Jordan P. Barnes is a grateful alcoholic & addict in recovery and Sand Island Treatment Center is his home group. When he’s not sharing his experience, strength and hope through writing or talking story, he enjoys bodysurfing and gardening.
Residing in beautiful Kailua, Hawaiʻi with his lovely wife Chelsea and two sons, Jordan has been sober from all mind and mood-altering substances since August 29th, 2011.
Jordan is a member of the Hawaiʻi Writers’ Guild and his debut book, One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery won 2020’s “Best Book of the Year” award from www.IndiesToday.com, was a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree as well as a finalist in both the 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and the 2021 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards.

Reviews

[Anjali Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for the book, and I have to say I liked it. Jordan writes beautifully and brings awareness to the adversities in addiction and drug abuse and why it's a worldly disease and a public health crisis that needs both the eyes and the heart for responding. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Lucia Charman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe Jordan managed to write another book as good as his first, but he did! Bridgetown centers around a needle exchange and tells the story of those that run it and go there for services with the opioid epidemic at record highs. I love how Jordan educates about harm reduction while still telling an incredible story with realistic and painfully human characters. This book should be required reading for everyone right now. Fentanyl is killing a generation and books like this are part of the solution.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved One Hit Away and was so excited to get an advanced copy of Bridgetown. It quickly became one of my favorite books I have ever read. Jordan does a beautiful job of showing the impact harm reduction programs have on communities. He shows both the clients and the staff as whole humans and I cannot wait to share this book with everyone I know!

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really hard for me to find a book I enjoy from the start. This book was so hard to put down and portrays a very tragic reality for some and what hard times people who care about people struggling with addiction. I do plan on buying the paperback and reading again right away as soon as it comes out!!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another harm reduction book—this one is fiction and details events at a needle exchange program in my city of Portland, Oregon. I got the feeling that the author used the novel format as a way to get necessary information out to people, so it felt like I was being educated as I read. This book made me want to volunteer at my local needle exchange and carry Naloxone on me at all times. This book is a great primer on harm reduction and how it works.

[Kara M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became aware of this book from Jen Cutting’s YT post and could not put it down. Very informative and eye opening to a widely unknown topic and demographic. The story explores how American society criminalizes addicts instead of providing education/resources and humane support. I already downloaded more of the author’s books.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered an incredible insight into the public health crisis and the day to day issues and barriers those working in the industry face in order to help clients. I learned so much from this book and encourage everyone to read it. Jordan did it again with an out of the park second book!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Jordan’s memoir, One Hit Away, I was excited to jump into his novel with both feet - and it did not disappoint. It took me on an emotional journey, and up to the very end of the book, I was still being surprised by the events of this story.

As a Portland native, I was interested in the story, the characters, the layer of truth in this fiction story. Portland does so much wrong; we approach drug abuse and recovery, wrong. This novel brings to light so many things we could be doing better.

The character development is so well done, I find myself wanting to get involved and do better, for these characters - and having to remind myself they aren’t real people, as this isn’t a nonfiction book.

In addition to the story itself being fantastic, the audio narration is top notch - vitally important in an audiobook. The characters had unique voices and traits, easily identifiable by the narrator. The interview at the end of the book is also amazing and thought provoking.

This novel left me wanting to spend time with the characters, and wanting to make change in my city…I look forward to researching more about the benefits of harm reduction and needle exchange programs, and will certainly look forward to Jordan’s next book - of any genre!

[Jessica Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book. I read "One Hit Away" and if I'm honest I had high expectations for this book. Sometimes authors have a debut book that is fascinating, that tugs at your heartstrings, that you can't put down, but their second book falls short. Bridge Town is not one of those books. Jordan is an exceptional writer and I can't wait to see what the future Jordan brings us.

Bridge Town shows readers in an insightful, compassionate way that people who use drugs, people who struggle with substance use disorder are real people who deserve to be treated with love and understanding. Jordan did a fantastic job of weaving in important harm reduction principles with his storyline. This is a work of fiction with its roots deep in reality. This is such a creative, productive way to introduce harm reduction principles to the masses. I enjoy the way Bridge Town highlights and brings attention to not only the struggles people who use drugs face but also the struggles that people who work in the harm reduction field face on a daily basis.

Not many books make it to my "want to read again" shelf, but this one immediately did. And I encourage those who haven't read "One Hit Away" yet, to do so as soon as you finish Bridge Town.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for people who are wanting to learn more about harm reduction in a very easily digestible/approachable way. The characters are quite relatable and the situations covered in the novel are quite realistic compared to what real-life harm reduction workers and advocates see. My only criticism is that, at times, the dialogue reads like a primer about harm reduction. For the reader who is not familiar with the concept and practice, the “edu-tainment” feel of the text should not be a problem, but it might feel a bit different for those of us who are very familiar with the work. Nonetheless, I appreciate the fact that this book exists to educate people to the importance of harm reduction and how necessary — and life saving — this work is.

[Paul LaGreca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether one agrees with the Harm Reduction program or not, Jordan Barnes brings us a novel that educates the reader on the program's philosophy and methodology; something I had not understood up to this point. It is superbly written with relatable and "easy to picture" characters. I was pulled into the drama from the start, and having lost a brother to drug addiction, I had to pause at times to digest a lot of what I was reading. However, that is the power of good writing.

This is Jordan Barnes' second book after his award-winning debut, "One Hit Away." I highly recommend it.

[Carrie Bunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

As for as a writing review, I preferred "One Hit Away". As for the message and author's overall goal for the book, it was spot on. Definitely presented another view that should be considered in public health programs everywhere.