Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Some strategies include:
Naloxone/Narcan is a prescription medicine that reverses opioid overdoses.
Syringe Exchange Services provide clean syringes because sharing syringes and other equipment can lead to the transmission of infections like hepatitis C (HCV) Hepatitis B (HCB) and HIV.
Sharps Containers are for used sharps, such as needles, syringes, and other sharp items. If they are shared or are not safely thrown out, they can injure people and spread infectious diseases.
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can be used to determine if drugs have been mixed or contaminated with fentanyl, providing people who use drugs and communities with valuable information about fentanyl in the illicit drug supply so they can take steps to reduce their risk of overdose. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/SAMHSA)
Xylazine test strips (XTS)are small strips of paper that can be placed within a personal sample of drugs to detect the presence of xylazine. Such strips may be used to inform decisions about drug use practices; for example, upon receiving a positive test result, an individual may opt to not use the drugs or use them in a less risky manner. (SAMHSA)
In Pennsylvania, Single County Authorities can provide harm reduction in-house or refer to programs who provide harm reduction methods.
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