Harm Reduction Programs

Harm Reduction

Syringe Services Program (SSP) provides low-barrier access to sterile supplies for safer substance use, overdose prevention tools like naloxone, and treatment resources. 

The Yakima Health District’s SSP can assist with the following:

• 1:1 syringe exchange
  • Encourages return of used syringes 
• Education
  • Safe disposal
  • Safer injection practices
  • Communicable disease
  • Safer sex practices
• Naloxone/Narcan distribution and training
  • Prevent and reverse overdoses
• HCV/HIV/Syphilis screening
  • Testing
  • Referrals for treatment for positive cases
• Vaccine administration
  • Hep A, Flu, COVID-19
    
• Basic wound care
  • Partnership with CHCW residency program
  • Improves education experience for future providers
  • Decreases ER visits and expenses to the local healthcare system
    
• Patient navigation and case management with referrals for:
  
  1. Drug treatment, chronic disease management, housing, food, mental and behavioral health

Community Benefits Offering a Syringe Services Program (SSP)

• SSPs save lives by lowering the likelihood of overdose death. Users of SSPs are 5 times more likely to stop injecting drugs than those who don't use them. 
• SSPs protect law enforcement and first responders. One in three officers is stuck with a needle during their career. SSPs have been shown to reduce these injuries by 66%.
• SSPs reduce crime. When people have access to clean syringes, it is less likely they will steal supplies from medical facilities or other people.
• SSPs promote safe syringe disposal. Cities with SSPs have fewer discarded needles compared to cities without SSPs.
• SPs are cost-effective. SSPs save taxpayers money on prevention rather than treatment.
• SSPs reduce healthcare costs by preventing infectious disease transmission and providing medical services to clients.