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
Jailing, fining, and policing people using drugs won’t “clean us up.” But it will kill us off.
The following are the words from an HIV & harm reduction activist delivered on June 5,...
Support Facts, Not Fear
Real solutions to address San Francisco’s drug crisis.
Pursing “paraphernalia” charges for public drug use will undo our progress to end HIV
We are alarmed by reports of law enforcement confiscating safe supplies and penalizing people for accessing and possessing harm reduction and disease prevention resources.
Changing opioid use isn’t always easy. We provide options & support.
A new program offers individualized support for people interested in starting medication assisted treatment for opioid use.
Informe de la evaluación de las necesidades de las personas latinas que consumen drogas en San Francisco
SFAF y la Coalición Nacional para la reducción de daños llevó a cabo una evaluación de necesidades para analizar las condiciones, los retos, y las barreras que afectan a las personas latinas que consumen drogas.
Criminalizing people who use drugs will increase overdose deaths
San Francisco AIDS Foundation condemns recently-implemented city strategies prioritizing “War on Drugs” tactics over public health.
Harm reduction for transgender and non-binary communities
Harm reduction is a critical public health strategy when it comes to ensuring healthier and longer lives for transgender and non-binary people.
Harm Reduction: Xylazine
Xylazine is a veterinary anesthetic used to sedate animals of all sizes during surgery and...