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
Commitment to support safe consumption services in San Francisco
San Francisco AIDS Foundation stands ready to implement these life-saving strategies when authorized to do so.
November Updates from Syringe Access Services
We are recruiting trans and non-binary folks to participate in a secondary syringe exchange program.
Be good to people who inject & use drugs in medical settings
Our Syringe Access Services team is helping to educate primary care and other medical care providers about stigma related to substance use, and how to provide overdose and safer use supplies competently.
October Updates from Syringe Access Services
We provide syphilis screening at the Harm Reduction Center, Tuesday to Friday from 11 am - 1 pm.
Relapse doesn’t mean “losing it all”
A harm reduction approach can change your perspective from “failure” to “part of the journey” after a relapse. See how I’ve taken command of my own story.
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.