Taylor Wood, BFA

Taylor Wood, BFA, (they/them) is a part-time drug user, full-time drug checker, and all around harm reductionist who began their journey volunteering with The Chicago Recovery Alliance.before working as a drug checking technician for one of the first SSP-based drug checking programs in the US under the tutelage of its architects.

Now the Drug Checking Program Manager & Senior Technician, they work to expand drug checking services through training technicians and/or apprenticeship, developing drop-off systems to provide wider access, as well as managing the distribution and occasional validation of immunoassay testing kits across Chicagoland and greater Illinois.

Taylor is direct in their opposition towards stigma of any kind, and seeks to build up and support those engaging in any/all substance use for whichever the cause. Taylor also works as a contractor for DanceSafe providing festival-based FTIR drug checking across seven states, in addition to being an organizer with the Alliance for Collaborative Drug Checking.

Taylor received their Bachelors of Fine Arts in Documentary Filmmaking from Columbia College Chicago with significant contribution from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, and their essay in fifth grade for the D.A.R.E Essay Contest was chosen for being the best. Taylor finds some sweet irony in that, as they do now enjoy moments of substance–occasionally on substance. Jokes aside–they enjoy hiking the Great Lakes with their dog Maverick, dancing, going on roadtrips to explore more places, and fighting with Yarelix in mosh pits.