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
Remembering my overdose, the fear still clings. I could have died that day.
In honor of National Recovery Month (September), HIV Advocacy Network member and person in recovery Nikos Pecoraro shares why they are fighting for safe consumption services in San Francisco.
“Saved my life”: Program for people using meth improves health and gives hope
Our program helps people stop or reduce their meth use, or reduce the harm that comes from using.
Overdose Awareness & Prevention Campaign Launched during August
This year’s campaign highlights “justice for people who use drugs” and demands that San Francisco declare a state of emergency to open safe consumption sites.
August Updates from Syringe Access Services
Contact us if you'd like to be a volunteer with Syringe Access Services.
Supporting employees who use drugs
How can an organization acknowledge, and support, employees with the same harm reduction principles it shares with clients and participants?
What can we do to stop overdose deaths?
Here are a variety of strategies that could help turn the tide on overdose, and save lives of people who use drugs.
A matter of life and death: Our response to the overdose crisis
We lose on average 2 San Franciscans every single day to overdose. It's time to wake up and take action, say SFAF staff on the front lines of the overdose crisis.
Safer Inside coalition calls for immediate action on safe consumption sites in response to SB 57 delay
Coalition members say the delay of SB 57 -- the safe consumption site bill -- will cost lives as overdose deaths continue to rise.