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Home » HIV/AIDS Program » Harm reduction and drug use
HIV/AIDS Program
Harm reduction and drug use

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 Hot topics
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 Harm Reduction materials
green square bullet Treatment resources in King County
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 Syringe access and disposal / Needle Exchange
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 Harm reduction materials for users
green square bullet Training resources for health care providers
green square bullet Reports and publications
green square bullet External links

Hot topics

When Your Partner Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem
(PDF, 125 Kb)
It’s tough enough when a friend has a problem with drugs or alcohol. It’s even more complicated when your partner does. It’s simply harder to see things objectively or to separate yourself from the effect of your partner’s addiction when you’re so emotionally, physically, and often financially intertwined. He needs help, and you need help. So who’s left to help the relationship?
When Your Friend Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem
(PDF, 150 Kb)
From the outside, addiction can seem hard to explain, frustrating, and contrary to all logic, especially when it’s someone close to you with the problem. How long do you watch the harm being done before you step in? How can I help when I don’t even understand what’s going on?
Queer Drug and Alcohol Resource Guide

Information from the Gay Men, Drug Use and HIV Workgroup including descriptions of types of popular party/club drugs and how it affects the body, how to get drug and alcohol treatment in King County, how to tell if you're using too much and links and resources.
Deconstructing TinaA compendium guide to crystal meth among gay and bisexual men
Adobe Acrobat Reader icon Download the Guide in Adobe PDF format. (Warning: file size is 2.9 MB in size.)
Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer to open PDFs. Click the PDF icon at the left to download and install Reader for free.
Life threatening infection called "wound botulism" seen in heroin users

Harm reduction materials

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 Treatment resources in King County
green square bullet Syringe access and disposal / Needle Exchange
green square bullet
 Harm reduction materials for users
green square bullet
 Training resources for health care providers
green square bullet Reports and publications
green square bullet External links to harm reduction materials

Treatment resources in King County

gray bullet Buprenorphine fact sheet and provider list (PDF)
To find out more about Buprenorphine and to find an up-to-date list of doctors in your area, please visit www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov
gray bullet Chemical abuse and dependence service providers in King County
gray bullet King County treatment programs: Inpatient, Outpatient, Therapeutic Communities and Methadone
gray bullet Mental Health, Chemical Abuse & Dependency Services Division, King County Department of Community & Human Services
gray bullet Trail to Treatment
This guidebook is for outreach workers, case managers, counselors and other front line staff who refer adults to alcohol and drug treatment in Seattle and King County.
gray bullet Affordable Health Care: Free or low-cost health insurance

Syringe access and disposal / Needle Exchange

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Needle Exchange Schedule - Locations and times for Seattle area needle exchanges.

> En español: Intercambio de jeringas
gray bullet What is a Needle Exchange?
gray bullet Participating pharmacies selling syringes to users
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gray bullet Safe and legal disposal of sharps
> En español: Disponiendo de las jeringas de una manera segura y legal
gray bullet Syringe Disposal Drop Boxes
> En español: Cajas para depositar jeringas
gray bullet Syringes: Where to get them...How to dispose of them...(PDF)
> En español: Jeringas: Dónde se consiguen...cómo se dispone de ellas después de usadas...(en el formato de PDF)

Harm reduction materials for users

NOTE: These materials are targeted for a specific high risk population and may contain language that is inappropriate for persons under the age of 18.


gray bullet Be Alive Tomorrow
Facts on opiate overdose.
gray bullet Your arms are not hopeless!
Tips from Jason - That Vein Care Guy on how to best find a vein and using syringes.
> En español: ¡Tus brazos no están perdidos!

gray bullet All about abscesses
An abscess is a pocket of pus which means you have an infection. What causes an abscess? Drug shooters often get abscesses on their arms or legs at injection sites.
> En español: Todo sobre los abscesos

gray bullet Bleach your works in 3 easy steps
gray bullet Syringe Disinfection for Injection Drug Users:
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Clostridium fact sheet in English (PDF)

> En español: Infección que amenaza la vida se ve en los que usan heroína (PDF)
> Health Advisories & Resources: Fatal Clostridial Infections in Injecting Drug Users (02/27/04)
gray bullet Cotton facts and tips
Cotton fever is probably not caused by cotton fibers. It's more likely caused by bacteria that live in the cotton. Cotton can grow a lot of bacteria, especially after it gets wet.
> En español: Algodón: Hechos y Recomendaciones
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Crystal -- What You Should Know (PDF)
For some men, crystal meth is an integral part of gay culture and their personal, social and sexual identities. Unfortunately, it also plays an undeniable role in the rise of HIV, STDs, and addiction in our community. There are many decisions to make about crystal: How can I minimize its risks? How do I stop? Should I even try it?
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Endocarditis
Bacterial endocarditis is an infection in the lining or valves of your heart. How does it happen? One way that bacteria get into the blood is by using needles that aren't sterile.

> En español: Endocarditis: Infección de su corazón
gray bullet Hard to hit veins? Abscesses? Visit the Public Health Vein Care Specialist. Click here for details.
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Muscling and Skin Popping Muscling is when you inject into muscle instead of a vein. Skin-popping is when you inject between skin and fat layers. Muscling and skin-popping allow germs to "sit" inside muscle and fat tissue or under the skin. These are great places for abscesses and other infections to brew.

> En español: Intramuscular y pinchandose
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Stop! Do Not Share! Sharing works is the same as sharing blood. This happens when you share rigs with someone else. (in Adobe PDF format)
> En español: ¡Para! ¡No compartas! (en el formato PDF)
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The Point is the Point:  Turn them back in with care
Exposed points are really dangerous. So are broken-off points. They are hard to see and can easily get lost in clothes, carpets, couches, wherever.

> En español: El punto ¡es la punta!"
gray bullet Tips for injection drug users to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV
> En español: Reducir el riesgo de adquirir HIV
gray bullet What does your needle look like?
Use a brand new needle everytime you inject. See microscopic photos of needle tips as they deteriorate after repeated use. Reusing needles increases your chances of getting abscesses, infections and blown veins.
> En español: ¿Cómo se ve TU jeringa?

Training resources for health care providers

gray bullet Community Health Outreach Workers (CHOW)
CHOW meetings, sponsored by the HIV/AIDS Program of Public Health - Seattle & King County, are for outreach workers and other line staff who interact with low-income people who are at risk for or have substance use/abuse problems.
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Club Drugs:
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Street Drugs:
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Heroin Overdose:
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Methadone Treatment and Recovery:
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Vein Care:
gray bullet Ambivalence - Helping People Change
gray bullet Harm Reduction Principles/Concepts
gray bullet Harm Reduction Skills
gray bullet HIV/STD Prevention and Self-Care Messages for MSM Crystal Users
gray bullet Stages of Change
gray bullet Substance use management: Guidelines for assessing options
gray bullet Advice for those who work with chemically dependent clients
gray bullet Continuum of Drug Use and Mental Illness

Reports and publications

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Drug Abuse Trends in Seattle and King County
Bi-annual Report by the Community Epidemiology Work Group of Public Health - Seattle & King County and the University of Washington.
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Seattle/King County Drug Involved Offender Task Force:  Report to the King County Executive

External links to harm reduction materials

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Harm reduction links
related sites
Receive Harm Reduction e-mail updates.

As a subscriber, you will get an email alerting you of signficant updates posted to this website.


drinking and driving = danger on the road
Traffic Safety in King County
In King County, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death of people aged 1 - 44 years. Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes play the major role in these deaths.
GLBT Health Webpages rainbow flag
These web pages address the health concerns of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, also known as "GLBT" people and "sexual minorities."
All about abscessesWhat causes an abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of pus which means you have an infection. What causes an abscess? Drug shooters often get abscesses on their arms or legs at injection sites.
Don't share needles!The Point is the Point!

Exposed points are really dangerous. So are broken-off points. They are hard to see and can easily get lost in clothes, carpets, couches, wherever. Always use a new syringe everytime you inject.
sharps disposal binSafe, legal and free disposal of sharps

Drop off your container of used sharps at a Public Health Clinic, syringe drop box, recycling and disposal station or your local Needle Exchange.

Endocarditis: endocarditis logoInfection of the Heart

Bacterial endocarditis is an infection in the lining or valves of your heart. In addition to damaging your heart, the infection can travel in your blood to other organs and tissues including your brain, lungs or kidneys.
What are the muscling logoharms of muscling and skin-popping?

All injectors are at risk for infections related to using needles. Muscling and skin-popping allow germs to "sit" inside muscle and fat tissue or under the skin. These are great places for abscesses and other infections to brew.
immunizations iconParticipating pharmacies selling syringes to users
A complete list of pharmacy locations throughout King County who sell syringes (needles) to users.
the club drug, "ecstasy" in just a few of its formsClub Drugs Roofies, Special K, Liquid X, Ecstasy , Crank and otherwise known as Club Drugs are being used by some young adults at all-night dance parties such as "raves" or "trances," dance clubs, and bars.
chemical hazardsMeth lab cleanups in King County Public Health responds to a number of contaminated chemical dumpsites that are created when chemicals from illegal drug labs are improperly disposed.
King County Medical Examiner's Annual Reports
health insurance iconThe Medical Examiner's Office serves the community by investigating sudden, violent, unexpected, and suspicious deaths.

Updated: Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:11 AM

All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice. For more information please call (206) 296-4600 (voice) or (206) 296-4631 (TTY Relay service). Mailing address: ATTN: Communications Team, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1300, Seattle, WA 98104 or click here to email us.

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