Harm reduction is an approach that engages directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis C. It focuses on empowering people who use drugs to make safer choices to help prevent negative health outcomes. 

 

People who use drugs face unique circumstances and challenges that greatly affect their mental and physical health. Our harm reduction program is committed to addressing discrimination, stigma, and ensuring that people who use drugs have access to essential health services. A set of key principles guide our harm reduction approaches:

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• Be non-judgmental and treat people with dignity and respect.

• Offer holistic and person-centered services.

• Allow people with lived experience to be leaders.

• Promote feasible and evidence-based interventions.
   

People who practice harm reduction accept those who use drugs “as they are” and “where they are” in their lives without judgement.

 

What does our harm reduction program look like?

We aim to make drug use less risky, prevent poor outcomes, promote better health, and connect people to essential resources. We provide supplies, education, and tools to help reduce the risk of disease, infection, injury, and death. Our harm reduction program includes a range of services and approaches, including:

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• Overdose education and Naloxone distribution

• Fentanyl test strips and drug checking

• Syringe exchange service programs

• Referrals for Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT)

 

Harm reduction programs that provide services and supplies such as naloxone, safe injection supplies, and drug checking tools save lives and connect people with addiction treatment services and medical care.

 

We create positive change by working directly with people who use drugs without judgement, coercion, or discrimination while recognizing people do not need to stop using drugs to receive support and care.

 

We know that there are critical gaps in access to harm reduction resources in Minnesota and we aim to close those gaps. To reduce the rate of overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases associated with injection drug use, it is critical to expand harm reduction services throughout the state.

 

CCC seeks to enhance and expand harm reduction services in Minnesota to reduce injection-related infections and opioid-related deaths.

Services offered by the CCC.

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Outreach Services

CCC actively refers people to community-based resources in high-risk areas, point-of-care testing and supplies at no cost such as:

• Syringes

• Nasal NARCAN

• IM naloxone

• Fentanyl test strips and very soon xylazine test strips

• Safer sex supplies and testing 

• Hygiene and comfort items

• MAT/Treatment Referrals