Harm Reduction

Harm reduction refers to a set of strategies that reduce the harms associated with substance use. By meeting people where they are, harm reduction providers build trust with people who use drugs (PWUD), equipping them with the tools and information to protect themselves from infectious diseases and overdose.

Syringe services programs (SSPs) are an effective, safe, and cost-saving strategy to prevent the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis. Comprehensive SSPs offer syringe distribution and disposal, conduct education and counseling, and provide or refer clients to HIV, STI, hepatitis, and substance use disorder services. They may also distribute the overdose reversal medication naloxone, fentanyl test strips, condoms, or other supplies to prevent infectious diseases or overdose.

Local health departments (LHDs) play a critical role in providing and supporting harm reduction services. NACCHO supports LHDs by increasing buy-in, facilitating peer learning and engagement, and providing technical and capacity building assistance for harm reduction programs.

Recent Work

Syphilis among Communities of People who Use Drugs Series

First Webinar: March 28th, 2023, at 3pm ET

Webinar: Addressing Drug User Health in Every Community

In November 2017, the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS) and NACCHO held a webinar discussion on improving drug user health though syringe service programs (SSPs) in urban and rural settings.

Watch the recording.

Stories from the Field

Reports from the Field: Impact of COVID-19 on Local Health Departments

The work of local health departments (LHDs) has been severely impacted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of their staff has been activated as part of an emergency response to combat the virus, and many of their day-to-day activities have been suspended or are operating at a reduced capacity. Read more about the impact of COVID-19 on HIV, STI, viral hepatitis, and overdose response activities at at LHDs in our below Reports from the Field.

Report from the Field: The Impact of COVID-19 on Local Health Department HIV, STI, and Hepatitis Programs

Report from the Field: COVID-19 Impact on Overdose Response Activities at Local Health Departments

Community Response Planning for Outbreaks of HIV/Hepatitis Among PWID

In the wake of the 2015 HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana – and in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) vulnerability assessment, which identified 220 counties most vulnerable to an outbreak of hepatitis C and HIV among PWID – the LENOWISCO Health District of the Virginia Department of Health initiated efforts to develop a comprehensive community response plan to address this vulnerability. The District, made up of four localities in rural southwest Virginia - Lee, Norton, Wise, and Scott - has been heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic and two of its counties were identified in the CDC’s assessment.

Read Community Response Planning for Outbreaks of Hepatitis and HIV Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Case Study from the LENOWISCO Health District, a Rural Community in Virginia to learn about the process the health department took for developing the Community Response Plan, lessons learned, and next steps for putting the plan into action. The full document is 138 pages, but each component can be individually accessed below:

Policy Statements