Harm Reduction
Harm reduction saves lives! By centering harm reduction principles, and ensuring resources are available in our community, we can better support individuals experiencing opioid use disorder and substance use disorder (OUD/SUD). These resources help us reach a crucial goal - reducing overdose-related deaths in Southwest Washington.
Harm reduction is crucial because it “incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.”
Local Harm Reduction Resources
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• Drug Overdose - CDC’s Drug Overdose Site. CDC collects data on drug overdoses and uses those data to inform prevention and response efforts.
• Fentanyl - Looking for information on fentanyl detection and use? Find fact sheets, training guides and best practices in the Harm Reduction resource center.
• Friends for Life - A campaign to inform and educate people about:
o What illicit fentanyl is and why it is unpredictable.
o How to help teens avoid opioid like fentanyl.
o How to sport and respond to an opioid overdose.
o How to access and use naloxone (Narcan) in an emergency.
• Start Your Recovery - Local drug and alcohol rehab center and support in Vancouver, Washington.
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SWACH is proud to work with partner agencies to provide a network of naloxone vending machines across Southwest Washington. These machines provide free naloxone to anyone who needs it, in a confidential and safe environment. See locations on our website.
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o Clark County Public Health Harm Reduction Center
Services offered: syringe exchange and safe syringe disposal, overdose prevention and naloxone training, safer sex supplies, HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis testing, etc.
o Share Syringe Services Program
Services offered: syringe access and disposal for people experiencing homelessness in Clark County, wound care, safer sex supplies, etc.
Local drug and alcohol rehab center and support in Vancouver, Washington
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