What is harm reduction?
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. There are many harm reduction strategies that help save lives and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Strategies
Overdose Prevention — Naloxone Information and Resources
The Massachusetts Good Samaritan Law encourages friends, family, or bystanders to assist people having an overdose and to seek emergency medical assistance. The law has significant potential to help reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic and save lives. The law protects victims and those who call 9-1-1 for help from charge, prosecution, and conviction for possession or use of controlled substances. The Law, Chapter 94C, Section 34A: “Immunity from prosecution under Secs. 34 or 35 for persons seeking medical assistance for self or other experiencing a drug-related overdose” can be found on the
Massachusetts Legislature General Laws website.
MMS PSA – Responding to an Overdose:
CPR- A Neglected But Important Part of Fighting the Opioid
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid Overdose
Make the Right Call Campaign
Pharmacy Standing Orders in MA
Co – Prescribing naloxone in primary care setting may reduce ER visits
New Guidance: Who can benefit from naloxone co-prescribing
Prescribe to Prevent: Compilation of resources and information about naloxone rescue kits to help health care providers educate their patients to reduce overdose risk and provide rescue kits for patients.
Prevent and Protect: Helps people looking for naloxone and provides tools for organizations conducting naloxone overdose prevention and naloxone advocacy, outreach and communication programs.
Harm Reduction Coalition- Responding to an opioid overdose
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program -
Safe Place for Observation and Treatment (SPOT)
Learn more about SPOT
Needle Exchange Programs
Reducing the spread of communicable diseases such HIV and hepatitis is an important public health strategy. People who inject illicit drugs should always be encouraged to access clean needles through needle exchange programs.
Needle exchange programs in MA
Harm Reduction Coalition
Access: Drug User Health Program
Safe Injection Facilities SIF’s also known as Safe Consumption Sites and Overdose Prevention Centers or Clinics
The opioid epidemic is a complex and urgent problem. Access to evidence based treatment for people with opioid use disorder remains the greatest challenge. Keeping people alive until they are ready to seek treatment is the goal. Safe injection facilities allow people to self-administer illicit drugs while under the supervision of medical personnel. This enables people to use drugs, but offers a safety net should they overdose. It also provides clean needles and access to health information and care that can lead to treatment. Illicit drugs frequently contain fentanyl that increases the risk of overdose. Learn more about Safe Injection Facilities (SIFs) and how they may be one more effort to reduce the number of overdose deaths and help people find the treatment they need. Currently, there are no Safe Injection Facilities in the United States, but many people within the medical community believe SIF’s could be one more strategy to help prevent overdose deaths.
Massachusetts Medical Society Report on Safe Injection Facilities
About Supervised Injection Facilities
SIF MA Now!
