Resources for people who use substances
Harm reduction is an approach for people who use drugs that aims to reduce harm rather than eliminate risk. Harm reduction means utilizing resources for safer and managed substance use to prevent death, injury, disease, and overdose.
Below is a list of harm reduction tips and resources for people who use substances. This information is not meant to be medical or legal advice. For medical advice you should reach out to a healthcare professional and for legal advice you should reach out to an attorney. You can find more detail about these tips at CA DPH.
- Always carry naloxone
- Test your substances for fentanyl with fentanyl test strips
- Use sterile syringes if injecting drugs
- For more information on accessing sterile syringes and other supplies, SF Syringe Access Collaborative can help. Just keep in mind that locations and times can change – call ahead to confirm updates.
- Use excessive caution if mixing drugs
- Do not use drugs alone
English: 800-484-3731
Spanish: 800-928-5330
This hotline is a free service that a person can call when using drugs alone. An operator stays on the line and will notify emergency services if the person stops responding after using drugs.
Know how to recognize and respond to an overdose (see above)
Find treatment and support
Store medications or drugs in a lock box and out of reach
Resources Online/Off Campus
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation external site (opens in a new window) - Overdose prevention. Fentanyl test strips, Narcan (naloxone) and safer drug practice info to prevent and reverse overdose .
- National Harm Reduction Coalition external site (opens in a new window) - Tips on how to identify, avoid and respond to overdoses
- The Drug Overdose Prevention and Education (DOPE) Project external site (opens in a new window) - The DOPE Project offers overdose prevention training for groups that work with people who use drugs and may be at risk of overdose.