Harm Reduction Resources in Atlanta, Georgia

Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to minimize the negative consequences of drug use through practical strategies that emphasize safety and access to care. Rather than preaching abstinence from drugs, harm reduction is an evidence-based, person-centered approach that focuses on improving the health and well-being of people who are using drugs. It is also a key component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy.

Harm reduction imparts practical strategies to prevent drug overdose, reduce disease transmission, and empower individuals to live healthier, more self-directed lives. Overdose reversal education, referral to hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations, and the issuance of substance test kits are all examples of harm reduction efforts.1

The city of Atlanta offers a range of harm reduction services aimed at promoting health and safety among people who use drugs. Organizations like the Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition (GHRC) and the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition (AHRC) provide essential services such as syringe exchange programs, free naloxone education and training, and access to fentanyl test kits. These harm reduction programs are designed to reduce the risk of overdose and the spread of infectious diseases while also connecting people to the health and social support resources they may need.

Fentanyl Test Kits 

A synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, fentanyl is a major contributor to fatal drug overdoses in the U.S.2 This is due to fentanyl’s high potency, high addiction rate, and low cost, all of which makes it attractive for illegal drug makers and distributors to add to other drugs. With fentanyl being tasteless and odorless, users may not know when they are ingesting a possibly lethal dose of the drug. 

Fentanyl test kits are a simple, life-saving harm reduction tool that can reduce the risk of overdose. Since even a small amount of fentanyl can be fatal, identifying its presence in other drugs can be helpful in avoiding overdose. 

Fentanyl test kits work by dissolving a portion of a drug in water and dipping the fentanyl strip into the solution for 15 seconds. After a couple of minutes, the strip will show whether fentanyl or similar synthetic opioid has been detected.3 

No test is perfect, but these kits are one of the most effective opioid harm reduction resources available today. Various organizations, including our Atlanta drug and alcohol rehab and the Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition, offer fentanyl test kits as part of their harm reduction efforts.

Overdose Reversal Education & Training 

A key aspect of harm reduction, overdose reversal education and training aims to reduce the dangers of opioid-related overdose by showing the public how to recognize, prevent, and reverse opioid overdose. This education and training includes the issuance of naloxone kits.

Naloxone is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose, naloxone can be given by intranasal spray or intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous injection.4 Many organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area offer overdose education and training, including Empowered Recovery Center and the Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition.

Syringe Services (or Needle Exchange Programs)

Also known as needle exchange programs, syringe service programs (SSPs) are a harm reduction strategy that provides access to sterile syringes, facilitates the safe disposal of needles, and connects people to disease prevention and treatment services. Some SSPs also offer referrals to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which involves the use of prescription medications, counseling, and behavioral therapies to treat addiction. The aim of these programs is to connect people with trustworthy healthcare resources and reduce the incidence of infectious diseases, resulting in cost savings for cities and states.5

Syringe service programs in Georgia operate independently of the Georgia Department of Public Health. However, the Georgia Syringe Service Program verifies that legal criteria are met before syringe service begins.6 Notable Atlanta-based syringe service programs include: 

• The Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, part of the Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition, Inc., provides a free and confidential syringe exchange program at multiple locations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
• SafeWorks is a syringe access program run by the Fulton County Board of Health. The program provides a safe, judgement-free space for people who use drugs to access free tools and resources.
• Access Point of Georgia is a nonprofit headquartered in Athens, Georgia. The organization was created to serve some of Northeast Georgia’s most vulnerable populations, offering clean injection equipment, access to healthcare, housing, and recovery resources.

HIV, Hepatitis & STD Testing and Prevention 

Testing for HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is a crucial component of harm reduction. After all, these infections can be spread through the sharing of contaminated needles and having unprotected sex. Testing for STDs can provide a further reduction of the most harmful consequences of risky behaviors that often come with regular substance use. 

People who inject drugs or engage in unprotected sex run a higher risk for contracting STDs. They also tend not to freely discuss their drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors with healthcare providers due to the stigma attached to drug use. 

STD testing helps identify infections that may not be showing symptoms in the early going but can cause long-term health problems if left untreated. Early detection and treatment of these diseases also reduces the risk of infected people transmitting their infections to others.7

HIV, hepatitis, and STD prevention includes access to disease prevention resources, condoms for both males and females to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other STDs, and vaccines for hepatitis A and B. Medications such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) also offer protection for people at high risk of contracting HIV. Both Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta and the Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition offer these STD testing and prevention services.

No, harm reduction measures do not promote or increase drug use.9 Numerous studies have reported that, after states or municipalities introduced harm reduction programs, decreases in drug use have followed. This is because harm reduction efforts often function as referral points for people looking to enter treatment for their substance use. 

Drug harm reduction resources meet people where they are. They offer information and services that can minimize the negative physical, social, and legal impacts associated with drug use. Harm reduction programs can also reduce hospital emergency department visits and other costly services known to stretch local budgets.10