In the next year, several people she shared a pew with that day died, leading Blyth to understand the deadly consequences of shame and stigma. In 2005 alone, Blyth lost 8 friends to a combination of war, suicide, and fatal overdoses. These tragic experiences shaped the work she does today.

While working as an advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, a mentor introduced Blyth to harm reduction. Initially opposed to the concept, her perspective shifted after attending her first harm reduction training, where she saw its value in saving lives and affirming the inherent dignity of people who use drugs. Since then, she has been dedicated to this mission.

Working full-time in the harm reduction field in California, Blyth felt a call to attend seminary. She wanted to learn how to bury loved ones with dignity and offer the spiritual care her friends had deserved and were denied. More than that she wanted to prevent the need for funerals at all, blending her passion for ministry and harm reduction.

As a minister, Blyth is passionate about equipping clergy to address substance use at both individual and community levels. She does this by offering a Christian worship service called Naloxone Saves, building relationships and understanding between people who use drugs and clergy, as well as offering training on the life saving approach of harm reduction.

Since returning to Ohio in 2019, Blyth has remained committed to the harm reduction movement. She founded HEAL Ohio, which stands for Harm Reduction, Education, Advocacy, and Leadership. Through HEAL she created the Statewide Harm Reduction Policy table that brings together over 150 harm reduction leaders, clergy, people who use drugs, and service providers to advocate for change. Among other initiatives, they have fought to expand Ohio’s Good Samaritan Law, granting broader immunity for minor drug charges when an individual overdoses and someone calls 911 for help. They have also advocated for increased statewide access to naloxone and greater understanding of harm reduction.

Today, Blyth Barnow is a minister, Director at HEAL Ohio, and co-founder of the Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Ministry of the United Church of Christ nationally. She remains passionate about meeting people where they are and helping everyone recognize their own dignity. Most recently she worked alongside other harm reduction leaders to create Deal Us In, a deck of 52 solutions to inspire responses to the current crisis. Minister Barnow wants people to know that harm reduction is a practical, loving, and commonsense way to save lives and resurrect our communities; and that humbly working side by side with people who use drugs is the key to our success.