Drugs & Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol have a steady presence in our society and culture. In addition to having wide-ranging effects on individual behavior, social interactions and our communities as a whole–the assumptions and perceptions that accompany different drugs vary widely as well.
How we understand the roles that drugs and alcohol play in our society, and their effects on individuals, influences how we manage their use and mitigate the damage that they can cause to our ability to function in the world, to our relationships, and to ourselves.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF HARM REDUCTION
Harm reduction is a guiding set of strategies that can be applied to drug and alcohol use. Central to the idea of harm reduction is that, for better or worse, drugs and alcohol play a role in our world, culture and society. Instead of ignoring drug use or attempting to keep people from using drugs and alcohol, harm reduction strategies are offered without judgement to reduce the negative consequences associated with drugs and alcohol.
Harm reduction strategies can include reducing use, managing use, substituting one drug for another, complete abstinence, and more.
PEOPLE FIRST
People who use drugs and alcohol are people first, and they deserve respect and dignity no matter what substances they use, how they use them, or for how long. We help people who use drugs to pick evidence-based strategies to reduce the harm that drugs and alcohol can cause.
Syringe Access & Safer Drug Use
We provide safer drug use supplies to people who inject or use other substances in order to prevent the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases.
Drug & Alcohol Counseling
We provide non-judgmental, harm reduction-based drug and alcohol counseling and drop-in services for people interested in addressing their substance use. Treatment is a partnership, individually tailored to address each participant’s goals and needs wherever they are in their experience with alcohol and drugs.
Related Reading
January Updates from Syringe Access Services
The SAS team offers programs recently endorsed by a CDC report and contingency management services may get a boost from Sacramento.
December Updates from Syringe Access Services
The SAS team shares that the Outreach and Mobile Health Access Van has returned after getting some amazing outfitting.
November Updates from Syringe Access Services
The SAS team reports a big increase in the number of people who access services last month, and talks about the technology that has contributed to the effort.
Expanding services for people who use meth
With fatal meth overdose on the rise, we are exploring new ways to help people make changes to their use of meth and other stimulants.
Updates from Syringe Access Services
John Halifax explains the tech behind onsite drug quality testing, Andrew Reynolds gives a history lesson, and Laura Thomas provides a policy update.
Glory holes, anonymous sex & safer cruising during COVID-19
Queer people have always have and always will find creative ways to get our needs met. So it’s no surprise that people are developing innovative harm reduction strategies to have safer sex as we live with COVID-19.
Am I drinking too much? Partying too hard?
Two of our counselors with the Stonewall Project shared their thoughts about when the “right time” might be to talk to someone if you’re questioning your use of drugs or alcohol.
What International Overdose Awareness Day means to me
We cherish and honor the people we’ve lost to overdose, and stay connected to as harm reductionists to help each other in connection and community, writes Ro Giuliano, our director of Syringe Access Services.