Harm Reduction Action Center

The mission of the Harm Reduction Action Center is to educate, empower, and advocate for the health and dignity of Denver's people who inject drugs, in accordance with harm reduction principles. Since 2002, our organization has provided direct services that curb the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and accidental overdoses among people who inject drugs.  To bolster our direct service efforts, the Harm Reduction Action Center also works closely with lawmakers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and the general community towards a common vision of a healthy and safe Colorado. The Harm Reduction Action Center has committed itself to serving Colorado’s public health by working to reduce the harms associated with drug use. 

Direct service - first and foremost. Over 12,000 participants have signed up with us over the past 10 years and around 100-150 people are currently accessing us per morning being pro-active about their health. They have the opportunity to dispose properly of used syringes, access sterile syringes, meth/crack pipes, and are offered referrals/resources. There is access to Naloxone, vein care, their mail, phone to call service providers/family/court/etc, HIV/HCV/STI testing, fentanyl testing strips, supportive service providers, hygiene products, 24/7 handwashing station, food access (other providers in the neighborhood have not served food since April), and community.

In addition, we provide a robust mobile syringe access program in high drug traffic areas 3 afternoons per week serving hard to reach folks with services and resources.  Also, in a partnership with 911, we provide on-demand syringe cleanup efforts all over the City.

Then, community engagement. We have an active PWUD advisory committee as all rules/programming/advocacy efforts is determined by participants. HRAC staff, participants, and volunteers provide regular and consistent neighborhood clean ups. These clean-ups target the five-block radius of the HRAC location for litter removal and allow our staff and volunteers to become more familiar with the neighborhood and its residents.

Health education is important and we have created zines about meth, benzos, and woundcare for our visual learners. In Spanish, as well.  Along with infographics about COVID & PWUD, how to dispose of a syringe, how to use person first language.  In a pre-pandemic world, we provide health education classes for our folks to have factual health information that protects themselves and others.  

Advocacy/Policy. We believe the streets should influence the policies at the State Capitol and Denver City Council. We have passed 7 pieces of statewide legislation in the past 10 years (4 to reduce the harms associated with overdose and 3 for syringe decriminalization) and led 3 Denver City policy changes.  We continue to push forward with advocacy/policy implementation efforts (via zoom, conversations, email, surveys, nagging, etc).  

And finally, technical assistance for providers working within bureaucratic institutions that our participants intersect with daily. These institutions include, but are not limited to; law enforcement, criminal justice, healthcare providers, neighborhood associations, and nursing/medical/pharmacy students tour to see what we are (and aren't), learn more about our programming/services, and the ability to ask questions. In addition, we provide presentations to these bureaucratic institutions and the larger community to chat about harm reduction and working with PWUD for a healthier and safer today.