Harm Reduction
HARM REDUCTION AND HEPATITIS C
The main way that hep C is spread today is through sharing ‘works’ (drug-use equipment like needles, syringes, spoons, water, filters, swabs, tourniquets; crack pipes, mouthpieces, poke sticks, bumpers, straws).
Harm reduction services provide the basic health care tools (information, support, tips, and equipment) for staying as safe as possible. Staying as safe as possible means a lower chance of death, disease and injuries from drug use and a healthier community overall.
Designated Driver and Tobacco Reduction programs and seat belt and helmet laws are all well-known harm reduction strategies.
Things to know
Important harm reduction services for reducing the risk of getting and spreading the hep C virus are:
- needle distribution and recovery
- crack pipe, mouthpiece and poke stick distribution
- safer drug-use information
- condoms and safer sex information
Harm reduction services are about providing the basic tools that people who use drugs need in order to stay as healthy and connected as possible while and for as long as they are using drugs.
Harm reduction services are meant to be accessed for as long a period of time, as often as a person needs to, in order to stay as safe and healthy as possible while using drugs.
Please check further in this guide for harm reduction services in your area and for links to other harm reduction resources and information and to drug user groups.