Practical information.
More informed choices.

Overdose & naloxone

Naloxone is a medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. Carry it, keep it accessible, and let the people around you know where it is. Emergency help is still needed because opioids can last longer than naloxone.

Recognize an emergency

A person who cannot be woken, has very slow or absent breathing, or makes unusual gurgling sounds may be overdosing. Lips or nails may look blue, gray, or discolored.

Naloxone does not reverse non-opioid sedatives themselves. Still give it if opioids could be involved. Follow the instructions for the product you have and seek hands-on overdose-response training.

Drug checking & fentanyl test strips

Drug checking offers information about an unpredictable supply. Fentanyl test strips can detect fentanyl in a sample; other technologies may identify additional substances.

• A test does not tell you that a drug is safe.
• A negative result can miss substances or contamination elsewhere in the supply.
• Test strips do not measure potency or identify every possible substance.
• Use the dilution, timing, and interpretation instructions for your specific product. Ask a harm reduction program for guidance.

Keep naloxone available and make an overdose-response plan even when a test is negative. Local programs can explain which checking options they offer.

Syringe services

Syringe services programs provide sterile equipment and safer disposal. Sharing syringes and other equipment can transmit infections, including HIV and hepatitis C.

Programs may also offer naloxone, test strips, wound supplies, testing, and referrals. Services differ by location; check the listing or contact the program.

Before you visit

• Check opening hours and whether mobile outreach is available.
• Ask about supply limits, return policies, and any identification requirements.
• Ask where to bring used syringes for safe disposal.

Harm reduction supports people at every stage of drug use. Access to safety should not depend on a commitment to abstinence.

Safer use & overdose prevention

No strategy removes every risk. A few practical steps can help reduce the chance of an unwitnessed overdose, infection, or injury.

• Avoid using alone when possible. Have someone who can respond and knows where you are.
• Keep naloxone nearby and know how to use it.
• Remember that tolerance can decrease after a break or a period of reduced use. A previously used amount may now be more dangerous.
• Mixing opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives increases overdose risk.
• Use your own sterile equipment. Avoid sharing syringes, preparation equipment, pipes, or straws.

These principles apply across different ways of using drugs. A harm reduction program can help you find supplies and make a plan that fits your circumstances.

Wound care

Drug-use-related wounds deserve attention without shame. A wound can worsen even when pain is limited. A harm reduction provider can help connect you with supplies and clinical care.

Get prompt medical evaluation for increasing redness or swelling, pus, worsening pain, bad odor, fever, red streaks, dark tissue, or a wound that is rapidly changing. Severe illness or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent attention.

Wound-care supplies do not replace an assessment by a clinician. Tell your provider what has changed so they can help you get appropriate care.

HIV & hepatitis C testing

Blood shared through syringes or other drug-use equipment can transmit HIV and hepatitis C. Sterile supplies and testing are important parts of staying healthier.

Community programs may offer no-cost or low-barrier testing and connections to prevention and treatment. Ask about confidentiality, testing options, and how you will receive results.

Hepatitis C can be cured, and HIV can be treated. Ask a healthcare professional about your options. After a possible HIV exposure, seek care immediately: HIV PEP must begin within 72 hours, and sooner is better.

A changing drug supply

Unregulated drugs may contain unexpected substances. Appearance, smell, or a familiar supplier cannot establish what is in them.

Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative found in some drug supplies. It can complicate overdose and is associated with serious wounds. Naloxone does not reverse xylazine itself, but should still be used when opioid overdose is possible.

Local findings are not automatically national trends. For current alerts, check your health department and the National Drug Early Warning System. We do not present an anecdote as a confirmed trend.

Vending machines & naloxone by mail

Some community programs offer supplies through vending machines, outdoor boxes, or mail. These can help when travel, privacy, or opening hours make access difficult.

Contents and access rules vary. A machine may carry naloxone, test strips, sterile supplies, sharps containers, or wound-care materials. Not every location is open 24/7.

Some programs mail naloxone at no cost to eligible people. Check the current program requirements and delivery area through HRF’s naloxone-by-mail guide.

Waypoint’s own vending-machine initiative is planned. Existing locations listed in HRF are operated by their respective programs.